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.
$1,599Sale Price|39% Off
Pair Mid Century Modern Swag Lamps! Iconic 1950s Gino Sarfatti for Raymor! Gold
By Raymor, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Peoria, AZ
Magnificent! Pair Italian Metal Pendant/Swag Lamps for Raymor Attributed to Gino Sarfatti These are the quintessential, mid century modern Italian swag lamps! Beautiful in their ...
Metal
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Raymor, Aldo Londi
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Raymor. This rare and sculptural Italian ceramic lamp is executed with multicolored glazed horizontal stripes and geometric circula...
Ceramic
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Aldo Londi, Raymor
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor. This rare and sculptural Italian ceramic lamp is executed in a warm auburn glaze with geometric circular perforation...
Ceramic
$4,649
H 34.65 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Gino Sarfatti Brass Italian '2097/30' Chandelier, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Madrid, ES
Chandelier model "2097/30" designed by Gino Sarfatti (1912/1985) for Arteluce. Made of polished brass structure. The central rod has forty arms supporting the light bulbs, Italy, 196...
Brass
Pair of Italian Pottery Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Aldo Londi, Marcello Fantoni, Raymor, Bitossi, Fantoni
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Italian pottery lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Stunning and unusual pair of Italian pottery lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. These masterfully created glazed pottery lamps...
Pottery
Aldo Londi lamps for Bitossi a pair in ceramic Italy 1970
By Aldo Londi
Located in Paris, IDF
Aldo Londi lamps for Bitossi a pair in ceramic Italy 1970 Very nice glazed deep brown and turquoise. Good condition
Ceramic
Ceiling lamp '2042/3' Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Milano, IT
Pendant lamp model '2042/3' made of painted aluminum and frosted glass with three light points. Designed by Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce in the 1950s, the lamp is restored ...
Aluminum
Big Bitossi Raymor Aldo Londi Vintage Italian Pottery Lamp Raymor Turquoise 30"
By Aldo Londi
Located in Wilton, CT
Large vintage Aldo Londi Bitossi Italian pottery lamp in brilliant turquoise monochrome glaze, circa 1960's. Bitossi inventory label on base. 30" high, 19" to top of pottery, 8" diam...
Pottery
Mid Century Italian Six Globe Chandelier Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous six-light chandelier by Gino Sarfatti. Original hand blown globes sit in a nickel chrome fixture. Recently rewired with period correct exposed cord fabric wiring. Truly a be...
Chrome, Nickel
Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamp Sconce for Arteluce, Italy 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular and iconic sconce designed by Gino Sarfatti and Archimede Seguso and produced by Arteluce in Italy during the 1950s. This incredibly elegant and unique sconce is in fabu...
Steel, Chrome
$3,600
H 38 in Dm 10 in
Large Scale Aldo Londi Studio Ceramic Lamp for Bitossi Imported by Raymor 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Dallas, TX
A striking and rare large-scale ceramic table lamp designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, imported to the U.S. by Raymor in the 1960s. This sculptural piece exemplifies the bold artistr...
Ceramic
1950s Italian White Perforated Cone Pendant Attributed to Gino Sarfatti
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Italian white perforated cone sconce attributed to Gino Sarfatti. Executed in brass and white painted aluminum. Arteluce was one of the most innovative lighting design companie...
Metal, Brass
1950s Gino Sarfatti 'Tricolore' grey table lamp for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Gino Sarfatti 'Tricolore' grey table lamp for Arteluce. A striking yet minimalistic table lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti, circa 1952. This extremely rare and iconic design is...
Brass, Metal
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
H 15 in Dm 6.5 in
1950s Bitossi Studio Pottery Lamp Mid-Century Italy Aldo Londi Gambone
By Raymor, Guido Gambone, Bitossi
Located in Hyattsville, MD
1950s Bitossi studio ceramic lamp. Biomorphic Designs. All original.
Ceramic
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Ceramic Lamp Italy 1960 a pair
By Aldo Londi
Located in Paris, IDF
A pair of ceramic table lamp by Aldo Londi by Bitossi Mae around 1960 Turquoise blue and brown hand made ceramic Good condition. Price for the pair Height 32 cm
Ceramic
Italian Modernist Raymor Pair of Unwired Pendant Lamps 1950s
By Raymor
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of large, unwired ceramic pendant lamps manufactured and imported by Raymor of Italy, circa 1950s. Lamps measure 12.5" in height by 4.5" at their widest and are signed Raymor, ...
Ceramic
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Raymor, Aldo Londi
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Aldo Londi ceramic Bitossi pendant lamp for Italian Raymor. This rare and sculptural Italian ceramic lamp is executed with multi colored glazed horizontal stripes and geometric...
Ceramic
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Bitossi, Raymor, Aldo Londi
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Aldo Londi ceramic Bitossi pendant lamp for Italian Raymor. This rare and sculptural Italian ceramic lamp is executed with multicolored glazed horizontal stripes and geometric ...
Ceramic
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Bitossi, Raymor, Aldo Londi
Located in Glendale, CA
1950s Aldo Londi ceramic Bitossi pendant lamp for Italian Raymor. This rare and sculptural Italian ceramic lamp is executed with multicolored glazed horizontal stripes and geometric ...
Ceramic