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.
Arthur Umanoff for Raymor Red Wrought Iron Wall Sconce Candelabra 30"
By Raymor, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century modern red enameled wrought iron wall sconce / candelabrum designed by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor circa 1950. It features five arms, each adorned with a candle holder and...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1960's Raymor Alvino Bagni Abstract Ceramic Wall Mount Sculpture Italy
By Raymor, Alvino Bagni
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Raymor ceramic/pottery abstract wall hanging plaque art piece or charger low bowl. This charger has a hole that you would attach a piece of wire so you could hang it on the...
Ceramic, Pottery
Pair of 1960 Glazed Ceramic Plaques with Bird Motif
By Raymor
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1960 Glazed Ceramic Plaques with Bird Motif (sold as a set) This pair of generously sized and textural plaques display a Bird, Duck, or type of water foul; and would be a perfect add...
Ceramic
Wicker Rattan & Wrought Iron Coatrack Shelf, France 1960's
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in New York, NY
A combination shelf and coat rack, wicker wrapped wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
Ceramic Abstract Wall Sculpture Perignem, Belgium
By Perignem, Paul Vermeire
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful colorful ceramic wall sculpture in organic nature details with abstract mushrooms and mosses designed by Paul Vermeire for Perignem,Belgium, 1960s. Paul Vermeire was a Belgian artist who lived and worked in Ostend. His oeuvre exists out of ceramics, paintings and drawings. He experimented with differed materials and techniques. At the back of the multicolored sculpture...
Ceramic
$96,778 / set
H 78.75 in W 78.75 in D 1.97 in
Navette Motif Ceramic Panels, Blue Glazed, Roger Capron, 1960s
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
A set of two large ceramic panels featuring the iconic "Navette" motif, created by the artist in the late 1950s. The chromatic range is exceptionally luminous and rare in this arra...
Ceramic
Roger Capron - Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - BIRD
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Ceramic
Gorgeous Pair Sea Shell Encrusted Wall Brackets Sconces
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Gorgeous pair of artisan made sea shell encrusted wall brackets or sconces , decorated with sea shells and birds nest coral branches, with pink sea whip branches added on top. Great ...
Shell
Vintage Italian Giltwood Wall Sconce Shelf
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Neoclassical or Rococo style Italian provincial gilt wood wall sconce or bracket Italy, Circa Mid-20th Century Measures: 6.75"W x 3.5"D x 5.5"H. Very good vintage condi...
Giltwood
in the Style of Peter Voulkos, Heavy Ceramic Wall-Mounted Sculpture
By Peter Voulkos
Located in North Miami, FL
A brutal abstract with thick crevices and brass stretcher mounting.
Brass
$357 / item
H 11.03 in W 5.52 in D 1.19 in
Wall mounted aluminium object / woman sculpture - around 1960s / Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1960s - very good original condition jt
Aluminum
Atelier Leather and Iron Coat Rack, Red
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beautiful five hook iron and leather wrapped coat rack. Each hook covered in red leather with white contrast stitching. Newly produced by Orange furniture...
Iron
$1,792
H 11.62 in W 7.68 in D 0.6 in
Roger Capron Wall Mounted Ceramic Clock, Signed, Circa 1960, France
By Roger Capron
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Roger Capron wall mounted ceramic clock, circa 1960. By Roger Capron, signed. (France). In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a beautiful pa...
Ceramic
Antique Wrought Iron Shop Sign Bracket, Late 19th Century
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Original old wrought iron "shop nose"/ shop sign bracket. Anthracite gray painted. Attached to the house wall of a shop so that you can hang your own...
Wrought Iron
Handmade Ceramic Wall Plaque, Mid-Century Modern, Signed, 1960s
By Bing & Grøndahl, Royal Copenhagen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Exceptional Danish Mid-Century Modern piece of ceramic artistry. Handmade wall plaque made of six glazed tiles (each 15x15 cm) in white, dark pine and forest green colors, all handpa...
Ceramic, Pottery, Wood, Oak
Sold
H 9.5 in W 8.5 in D 1 in
1950s Rare Italian Crackle Glass and Pottery Wall Plaque by Raymor Signed
By Bitossi, Raymor, Alvino Bagni
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful fish design unique piece by Raymor Italy, signed and retains its Raymor label has a chip on the back of the plaque as shown and normal imperfection to the ceramic as shown ...
Pottery
Cado Wall Unit Imported by Raymor
By Poul Cadovius, Raymor
Located in New York, NY
Nice Danish wall unit, imported from Denmark by Raymor, attributed ton Poul Cadovius. This example shows some cosmetic wear including a burn on the underside of one shelf, and missin...
Brass