What is the history of Marbro lamps?

Question

1stDibs Expert · Answer

The history of Marbro lamps dates back to 1934, when brothers Morris and Elliott Markoff founded the Marbro Lamp Company. The brothers relocated from Chicago to southern California after the end of World War II and set up an assembly plant in the garment district of Los Angeles. Vases and objets d'art sourced from all over the world were used as lamp bases. The brass bases came from India, alabaster from Italy, porcelain from Japan and China and crystal from Germany and France. Murano glass and whimsical bronze figurines were two of the more popular base materials. Marbro lamps were one of a kind and took between 75 and 90 days to complete. Occasionally, they were made from sculptures that customers brought into the factory. Highly skilled woodturners and shade-makers crafted lampshades and wooden bases in Marbro's shop. The company's best-known products were these table lamps, but it also produced a wide variety of decorative objects. The Masco Corporation acquired the Marbro Lamp Company in 1987. Its Los Angeles assembly plant shuttered its doors in 1990. Its equipment and remaining inventory were moved to LaBarge Mirrors — a Masco subsidiary — in Michigan. Shortly after, the production of Marbro lamps ended. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of Marbro lamps.

What is the history of Marbro lamps?

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Table Lamps

Marbro Pair of Large Chinoiserie Urn Table Lamps with Imari Decor

20th Century American Neoclassical Table Lamps

Marbro Neoclassical Exotic Marble & Dore Bronze Table Lamp, 1950s

Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps

Single Handpainted Figural Harlequin Lamp by Marboro

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Marbro Murano Glass Millefiori Table Lamp, 1950s-1960s, Double Signed

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Marbro 1950s Italian Seguso Murano Glass Pineapple Table Lamp

Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps

Mid-Century Italian Sheaf of Wheat Gold Gilt Table Lamps by The Marbro Lamp CO.