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.
1950s Aldo Londi Ceramic Bitossi Pendant Lamp for Italian Raymor
By Aldo Londi, Raymor
Located in Los Angeles, 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
$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 Los Angeles, 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
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
Pair of Italian Pottery Lamps by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Aldo Londi, Raymor, Marcello Fantoni, Fantoni, Bitossi
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
1950s Gino Sarfatti 'Tricolore' grey table lamp for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Los Angeles, 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
Aldo Londi Bitossi Large Table Lamp Piume Multicolore Signed, Italy 1950s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage large scale pottery lamp features a sculptural ceramic body in baluster form, decorated with delicate hand painted gradient rainbow feather pattern on off-white background gl...
Ceramic, Pottery
1950s Italian White Perforated Cone Pendant Attributed to Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Italian white perforated cone sconce attributed to Gino Sarfatti. Executed in brass and glossy white painted aluminum. Rings of perforations cast points of light when illumin...
Metal, Brass
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. Price for the pair, without lampshades.
Ceramic
$3,069
H 17.33 in W 5.71 in D 3.94 in
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Fritte Chamotte Ceramic Table Lamp, Italy, 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Valencia, VC
Rare Mid-Century Modern table lamp from the Fritte series by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, produced in Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy, during the 1960s. The lamp is formed as a compact archi...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware, Glass
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
Ceramic Table Lamp – Aldo Londi for Bitossi – 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Roma, RM
Table lamp designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi in the 1960s. A cylindrical glazed ceramic base featuring a vertical geometric relief design in shades of green, ochre, brown, and blue....
Ceramic, Fabric
1950s, Italy, Gino Sarfatti attr. Pendant Lamp, Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant mid century pendant designed by Gino Sarfatti (attr.) for Arteluce. The lamp is made of a white plastic ring with black metal rods and frame. The lamp emits smooth indirect l...
Metal
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
$2,950
H 33 in W 36 in D 36 in
Iconic & Original Gino Sarfatti "2097" 50 Bulb Chrome Chandelier for Arredoluce
By Arredoluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti created the "Mod 2097," a 50-bulb hanging chandelier, in 1958 in keeping with his renowned utilitarianism and his ambition to make simple yet effective pieces. It serve...
Chrome
Aldo Londi for Bitossi Table Lamp
By Aldo Londi
Located in Dallas, TX
A ceramic table lamp designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi .
Ceramic
Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamp Sconce for Arteluce, Italy 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
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
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
H 15 in Dm 6.5 in
1950s Bitossi Studio Pottery Lamp Mid-Century Italy Aldo Londi Gambone
By Bitossi, Raymor, Guido Gambone
Located in Hyattsville, MD
1950s Bitossi studio ceramic lamp. Biomorphic Designs. All original.
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 Aldo Londi, Raymor
Located in Los Angeles, 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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Raymor
Located in Los Angeles, 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 Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Raymor
Located in Los Angeles, 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