Few had their finger on the pulse of American furniture like importer and distributor Raymor. Founder Irving Richards first had his eyes opened to the world of furniture while attending the 1928 Salon d’Automne art and design fair in Paris. He joined Lightolier two years later and developed its business relationships, including with designer Russel Wright.
Wright and Richards met in 1935 and Russel Wright, Inc. was formed in 1936. Its American Modern ceramic tableware, produced under the name Wright Accessories in 1938, was a notably lucrative collaboration. Following the early success of American Modern, Richards obtained the majority share of Wright Accessories and changed its name to Raymor Mfg Division Inc. in 1941.
By 1952, the exclusivity over American Modern had ended (the line was initially produced by Wright Associates and later manufactured by Steubenville for two decades). To keep up with American markets, Raymor worked with prominent designers such as George Nelson, Arthur Umanoff, Ray and Charles Eames, and Hans J. Wegner.
The company’s imports expanded to Denmark, which contributed to the rise of Scandinavian modern designs in the American market. Throughout the 1950s, Richards established relationships with factories in Scandinavia, Italy and Germany, as well as with the influential tastemaker and importer Charles Stendig.
The furniture company Simmons bought Raymor in 1963 and changed its name to Raymor Richards, Morgenthau Inc. in 1969. During that time, Raymor’s Omnibus range of Scandinavian-style wall units became widely popular, along with Italian glass and pottery like Bitossi ceramics designed by Aldo Londi and Bagni ceramics by Alvino Bagni.
Shifting styles coupled with rising competition, and the departure of Richards from the company, ended Raymor. By the late 1970s, Raymor faced a wave of international factories able to produce similar products of lesser quality for a lower cost. Buyers were eager to frequently change their interior styles, limiting the need for high-end, durable furniture, which Raymor had been importing.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Raymor ceramics, lamps, decorative objects and more.
Tommaso Barbi Style Burled Elm & Chrome Hanging Wall Clock, Circa 1970
By Tommaso Barbi, Raymor
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tomasso Barbi attributed Circular Burl and Chrome Wall Clock by Raymor. Featuring a round Chrome rimmed Burled Elm front with reflective Chrome surround. With German clock mechanism...
Metal
$900Sale Price|20% Off
H 13.78 in W 13.78 in D 9.85 in
Midcentury Tommaso Barbi Burl and Chrome Square Picture Frame, Italy 1970s
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Roma, IT
Astonishing midcentury chromed brass and burl square photo frame. This beautiful piece was designed in Italy in the 1970s by Tomaso Barbi and is als...
Metal, Chrome
$266 / item
H 3.15 in Dm 7.88 in
1970s British Orange & Chrome AC GMT Co. Industrial Wall Clock Black Dial
By Industrial Design
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards. At A.C GMT Co. we a...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
$267 / item
H 3.15 in Dm 7.88 in
1970s British Racing Green AC.GMT.CO. Industrial Wall Clock Chrome Bezel
By Industrial Design
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards. At A.C GMT Co. we ...
Steel, Chrome
$1,481
H 5.12 in Dm 5.52 in
Tommaso Barbi Signed “Egg” Ashtrays / Catchall in Brass & Chrome, Italy 1970s
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic and iconic sculptural “egg” stacking ashtray in an elegant combination of brass and chrome-plated metal. This iconic piece was designed by Tommaso Barbi and produced in Ita...
Brass, Chrome
$210Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.49 in W 7.49 in D 1.97 in
Midcentury Rare Wall Clock Krups, Space Age Style, Germany, 1970s
By Krups
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - space age style
Plastic
Gucci Wood + Chrome Clock, 1970s
Located in Chicago, IL
This 1970s Gucci desk clock showcases the brand’s signature equestrian influence. The design pairs warm-toned wood with polished chrome accents, featuring bridle bit motifs—a nod to ...
Chrome
Tommaso Barbi Chrome and Wood Modernist Box, circa 1960
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Atlanta, GA
Monumental Tommaso Barbi Modernist Box in Chrome and Sycamore Burl, Italy, circa 1960 A rare and commanding object by renowned Italian designer Tommaso Barbi, this large-scale modern...
Metal, Chrome
Junghaus Wall Clock 1970s "ELECTORA"
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Antwerp, BE
Original Vintage Wall mounted clock designed in the seventies by the Manufacture Junghaus, Germany, model Electora. The clock is in original...
Brass
$950
H 1.19 in W 13 in D 10.63 in
Tommaso Barbi Black Lucite and Brass Decor Picture Frame, circa 1970
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning modernist picture frame was designed by the renowned Italian designer Tommaso Barbi. The rare piece was expertly crafted, circa 1970. The photo frame boasts a refined m...
Metal, Brass
Art deco elm wall clock by Zenith
By Zenith
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Art deco shaped wall clock by zenith circa 1930. Well known art deco swiss made wall clock retailed by heal’s in the 1930’s. Convex shaped round clock face with moulded edge. Decora...
Brass
$3,500
H 2.75 in Dm 13.5 in
1970s Howard Miller zebrawood and chrome wall clock designed by Arthur Umanoff
By Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Phoenix, AZ
1970s Howard Miller wall clock model 616 designed by Arthur Umanoff Associates. “Zebrawood” veneer (described as “Leriex rosewood veneer” in the 1975/1976 catalog), chrome frame and hour marks, and original George Nelson hands. 13.5” round, 2.75” deep. The clock matches the well known Peter Protzman desk...
Chrome
Fancy Antique Wall Clock, circa 1850
Located in Berlin, DE
Fancy antique wall clock, circa 1850. Octagonal-shaped and black-framed body with glazed door. White dial. Hand-inserted inlaid brass elements in Boulle technique. Movement must be ...
Wood
Mid century modern rattan wall clock by Raymor, circa 1960s.
By Raymor
Located in Houston, TX
Mid century modern rattan wall clock by Raymor, circa 1960s. In great working order. 14x14
Rattan
Italian Modern Meridian Ceramic Wall Clock by Bitossi for Howard Miller
By Raymor, Bitossi, Howard Miller, Aldo Londi
Located in Miami, FL
Seldom seen Mid-Century Modern Italian ceramic wall clock from the Howard Miller Meridian Collection. A star shape design in gray and purplish ...
Ceramic, Pottery
Meridian Italian Modern Ceramic Wall Clock by Bitossi for Howard Miller, 1963
By Bitossi, Howard Miller, Aldo Londi, George Nelson, Raymor
Located in Miami, FL
A colorfull Mid-Century Modern Italian ceramic wall clock from the Howard Miller Meridian Collection. A spoke design with small brown squares a...
Ceramic, Pottery
Modern Meridian Italian Ceramic Wall Clock by Howard Miller, 1970s
By Raymor, Howard Miller, Bitossi, Aldo Londi, George Nelson
Located in Miami, FL
A rarely seen Mid-Century Modern Italian ceramic wall clock from the Howard Miller Meridian collection. This particular colorful abstract design...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Chrome and Burl Wall Clock by Raymor
By Raymor
Located in Chicago, IL
A nice vintage wall clock by Raymor. The works are German by Kienzle / battery operated. A wall clock fitting for an interior with Milo Baughman or Paul Evans furniture. Signed with...
Burl
Meridian Clock for Raymor Designed by George Nelson
By George Nelson, Raymor
Located in Southampton, NJ
Ceramic wall clock having Bitossi Rimini Blue style design in a glazed ceramic body. George Nelson clock components by Howard Miller clock company.
Steel
60s Raymor Rattan & Cane Wall Clock
By Raymor
Located in Miami, FL
SOLD Perfect for the beach house and from the 60s, this swell clock from Raymor has a cane back face surrounded with a framing grid of thin reed rattan. Operating on a single "C" b...