The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
The Marbro Lamp Company was one of the finest lamp producers during the mid-1900s. Its pieces were mainly sold in a handful of exclusive furniture shops. Marbro was the go-to supplier of Hollywood Regency and mid-century modern style lighting for interior designers. Its table lamps, chandeliers, floor lamps and wall sconces have graced the homes of many celebrities.
Brothers Morris and Elliott Markoff founded the Marbro Lamp Company in 1934. Its name is a combination of “Markoff” and “brothers.” The brothers relocated from Chicago to southern California after the end of World War II and set up an assembly plant in the garment district of Los Angeles.
Vases and objets d’art, sourced from all over the world, were used as lamp bases. The brass bases came from India, alabaster from Italy, porcelain from Japan and China and crystal from Germany and France. Murano glass and whimsical bronze figurines were two of the more popular base materials.
Marbro lamps were one-of-a-kind and took between 75 and 90 days to complete. Occasionally, they were made from sculptures that customers brought into the factory. Highly skilled woodturners and shade-makers crafted lampshades and wooden bases in Marbro’s shop. Some metal and glass pieces went through paint or staining treatments. The company’s best-known products were these table lamps, but it also produced a wide variety of decorative objects.
The Masco Corporation acquired the Marbro Lamp Company in 1987. Its Los Angeles assembly plant shuttered its doors in 1990. Its equipment and remaining inventory were moved to LaBarge Mirrors — a Masco subsidiary — in Michigan. Shortly after, the production of Marbro lamps ended.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Marbro Lamp Company lighting, decorative objects and more.
20th Century American Hollywood Regency The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Pottery, Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Brass
1890s Japanese Meiji Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Late Victorian Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Ormolu
Late 20th Century English The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Brass
18th Century European Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Fabric, Ceramic
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Ceramic
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Bronze
2010s English Modern The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Brass
19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Ormolu
19th Century English Victorian Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Silver
19th Century French Early Victorian Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Vases
Ormolu
The Marbro Lamp Company vases for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024No, the Marbro Lamp Company is not still in business. The Masco Corporation acquired the company in 1987. Its Los Angeles assembly plant shuttered its doors in 1990, and its equipment and remaining inventory were moved to La Barge Mirrors, a Masco subsidiary, in Michigan. Shortly after, the production of Marbro lamps ended. Find a diverse assortment of Marbro Lamp Company lighting on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023There is no single best company for table lamps. A well-crafted antique or vintage table lamp does more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior, and over the years, many manufacturers and designers have offered a range of visually appealing table lamps. Examples include Artemide, Gordon & Jane Martz, FLOS, Søholm Stentøj, Louis Poulsen and many others. Shop a large collection of table lamps on 1stDibs.