Gordon And Jane Martz Bookends

Gordon and Jane Martz were prominent designers and creators of simple, elegant, handcrafted ceramic goods. Their vintage mid-century modern designs for table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers and pendants are daring but relaxed and make for versatile additions to any space.

Jane Martz’s grandmother established the family-owned American lampshades company Marshall Studios in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922. Jessie “Muz” Marshall produced hand-painted lampshades out of her home, then expanded to include lamp bases made of wood. The business later moved to Veedersburg. After studying at New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Gordon and Jane joined the company in the early 1950s and stepped in to run Marshall Studios after it had been managed by Jane’s parents. Gordon and Jane instilled the brand with fresh energy and new ideas. They introduced innovative modernist stoneware lamps, decorative accessories and more that became immediately popular with new homeowners of the era. Later, there was a return to lamp bases made solely of wood, and floor lamps, bookends and tables with tile tops appeared in the company catalogs.

The Marshall Studios M101 lamp was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s “Good Design” exhibit in 1953, which also featured the work of other mid-century luminaries such as Jens Risom, Paul McCobb, George Nelson and more. 

Gordon and Jane explored color and texture at the company during the 1950s and ‘60s and continued the rich legacy of craftsmanship for which Marshall Studios had become known. The manufacturer secured government contracts and their works were featured in Interiors magazine. Etchings and other decoration continued to be done by hand, and Jane eventually also took an interest in the fabric and textiles used to hand-cover the paper shades, producing a complementary line of hand-woven pillows and other goods.

Find vintage Gordon and Jane Martz lighting, tables and ceramics on 1stDibs.

A good pair of antique, new or vintage bookends will look wonderful in your reading nook. And the need for these trusty home accents has stood the test of time, which means there are many different kinds to suit any design taste or furniture style.

Bookends weren’t created until the 1870s. Serving faithfully in the background, they went unobserved for a while. The authors of the Oxford English Dictionary report that the term “book end” didn’t appear in printed material until 1907. The primary function of bookends is to ensure that your books remain upright in your bookcase, but style and form have taken the lead over the years. Furniture makers have ensured that bookends demand as much attention as the books themselves. Indeed, while competing with carefully curated first editions or rows of colorful spines is no small task, plenty of bookends steal the stage.

If you’re looking to add a dose of intrigue or decorative flourish to your reading room that will be difficult to ignore, stone bookends and metal bookends can take on the appearance of small, provocative sculptures rather than functional accessories to keep your books orderly on your shelves. Depending on what kind of textures you’re thinking of introducing to your home office or study, a pair of brass bookends or a bronze set will pop against your dusty hardcovers and any decorative objects you’ve accumulated while working to style your bookcase. A pair of mid-century modern bookends carved from dark, exotic woods such as teak can also introduce warmth to a home office or study. While teak was a favorite of designers who worked with furniture in the mid-20th century, all manner of wood bookends have emerged over the years, with some woodworkers carving ornate patterns or figures into their pieces.

Bookworms, take note: You can find an extraordinary range of antique, new and vintage bookends for your dazzling book displays and bookshelves today on 1stDibs.