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
$1,111
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
$264 / 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
$264 / 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
$1,473
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
Round Silver Jaz Quartz Clock Wall Hanging, 1969
By Jaz
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Jaz Quartz is a round wall clock. The clock has a silver case made of brushed aluminium, a metal blue index. The aluminum dials give this clock a lovely chic and stylish design t...
Aluminum
Midcentury Rare Wall Clock Krups, Space Age Style, Germany, 1970s
By Krups
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - space age style
Plastic
Tommaso Barbi Picture Frame, Italy, 1970s
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Greding, DE
Segmental picture frame with turned rim of white ceramic and stand of brass. Inscribed Tommaso Barbi on the back.
Ceramic
Wall Clock Circa 1870 - Freiburg Manufactory
Located in Opole, PL
Wall Clock Circa 1870 - Freiburg Manufactory We present you this wall clock circa 1870 from the Freiburg manufactory (today’s Świebodzice, Lower Silesia). The case has not undergon...
Wood
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
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
Tommaso Barbi Goatskin Box, Italy, 1970s
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Rome, IT
1970s Rectangular goatskin box with wooden interior by the Italian designer Tommaso Barbi. The original label is still attached on the back, as shown in the photos.
Metal
$990Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 6.3 in W 6.3 in D 3.15 in
Tommaso Barbi Bottega Gadda, 1970s , brass Clock Bowl Italian design
By Tommaso Barbi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bowl with clock Tommaso Barbi Bottega Gadda, 1970s, made of brass and Murano glass balls. Measures: Bowl width 26 cm depth 22 cm height 4 cm.
Brass
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 Bitossi, Raymor, 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, Raymor, Howard Miller, Aldo Londi, George Nelson
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 Bitossi, Raymor, Howard Miller, 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 Raymor, George Nelson
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