The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Vintage midcentury Italian Murano bubble wire amber glass table lamp by Marbro original. Handcrafted Venetian hand blown glass with metal wired cage de...

A Marbro turned green glass table lamp retaining its original lamp shade with Greek key design. Excellent original condition. Base measures 7' diameter. Marbro Lamp Company The company was founded by Morris Markoff and his brother, hence the name Marbro from Markoff brothers. They started the company shortly after WWII. The company was located in a 3 story brick building in the garment district of Los Angeles, just south of Downtown right by the Santa Monica Freeway. During the time they ran the company, they sold almost as many antiques as they did lamps. They also had a sizeable business in decorative accessories such as tables and a lot of animal figurines. There were quite a few dog figurines that were life-size. One dog figurine was a life-size Great Dane purchased by the actor Jack Webb who starred as Sgt. Joe Friday in the 1951 TV hit series, Dragnet. There were quite a few celebrities that came in to their shop. One actress who shopped there repeatedly was Deborah Shelton who at the time played the part of “Mandy” on the TV series Dallas (remember J.R.). Marbro sold their products mainly through interior designers and a few upscale furniture stores. You would not find a Marbro product in a chain furniture store or a discount store. Most of the products were built to order. A typical order from a designer or retailer took between 75 and 90 days to complete. Most of the components that made up the lamp bodies (ceramic, brass, glass, etc) were purchased from small companies around the world. In the later years almost all of the brass came from India. For the most part, none of the bodies were made on site. Marbro was well-known for importing a variety of unique lighting components from all-over the world. Italy was the source for alabaster, Japan and China for Porcelain, Brass in India and Crystal from Germany and France. Lamps would also be made from sculptures that customers brought to in to the shop. Once the lamp bodies arrived, a group of Marbro employees would make the wood bases, spin the metal caps, make the shades, and do the painting and tinting. With the help of about 20-40 other true world class artisans, metal workers, finishers and handmade shade makers, they produced lamps and shades that were truly some of last of their kind of art. For example, Marbro brass was never just plain brass. It was stained with a tinting that was homemade and kept secret by the company which is reminiscent of the Handel Lamp Co. of the early 1900s. There were quite a few of these preparations all kept in one of those little metal boxes on a 3 x 5” file card just like a recipe. It was truly a unique method of making lamps. Many of the lamp bodies that the company bought were not exactly matched as pairs. Sometimes 10-20 crystal vases would have to be sorted through to get 2 of the exact same height so that if the lamps were purchased as a pair, they would match. All of the shades were made by hand by a group of women on the second floor of the building with very little automation. The manufacturing plant was closed in Los Angeles in December 1990 and the inventory and equipment were moved to Labarge Mirrors in Holland, Michigan. At the time Labarge Mirrors was a Masco Corp subsidiary. Some time later, the Marbro product line was discontinued. Eventually, Masco sold most of their home furnishings manufacturing holdings. Marbo assembled a very talented, experienced and unique group of artists and craftsmen and many of their Fine lamps exhibit a certain unique signature style. Most of the employees were in their 50’s and older. There were quite a few employees in their late 1960s and 1970s. Today their lamps are collectible and sought after especially by certain knowledgeable collectors who are familiar with the company's lamps and history. Many of Marbro lamp are commonly referred to as “Hollywood Regency” style. This rather lavish style of decorative arts is currently in the midst of a tremendous and accelerating revival. It is obvious from the company's careful selection of art objects and their unique proprietary methods of lamp making that their goal was to design beautiful unique and very high quality lamps. Their success is obvious from the very Fine collectible Marbro lamps that are still sought after today. Marbro lamps present a particular appraisal Challenge due to their very unique style and market conditions. Generally, there are fewer collectors of Marbro lamps as compared to many other lamp companies of the 1900 - 1950’s era. This in no way devalues your lamp but implies a special category of a more limited number of buyers and collectors. During the 1950s, Marbro sold to many very affluent customers including movie stars and others connected to the film industry. Their lamps were considered very exclusive and definitley high end for that period. The key to selling vintage Marbro lamps...

Mid Century porcelain lamps in an ivory white glaze embellished with white chrysanthemum pattern, resting on custom lucite bases. Dou...

These magnificent lamps are shipped as photographed and described, complete with new shades, harps and finials. Completely installation ready. A stellar pair of Asian style lamps...

This is a great pair of Marbro solid brass peacock and chick table lamps that date to the early 1960s. The casting of the bronze peacock elements is of high quality and both lamps ar...

Offered is a large vintage Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Marbro. This unique lamp features a painted ceramic or porcelain body that sits on a wooden base. Also includes a unique f...

These magnificent lamps are shipped as photographed and described in the narrative. They have undergone meticulous professional restoration and are shipped complete with the new shad...

An exquisite brass table lamp by the renowned Marbro Company, made in the 1950’s, the piece displays influences of Art Nouveau and Brutalist styles, the detailed lotus flower with buds to the centre, features brutalist embellishment to the central stem. The lamp has a single large bayonet lamp fitting and is supplied with a modern replacement shade, a true interiors piece, and highly collectable from one of America’s most after lighting manufacturers. Measures: Height 107cm x Width 40cm Without shade Height 87cm x Base Width 23cm. The Marbro Company The company was founded by Morris Markoff and his brother, hence the name Marbro from Markoff brothers. They started the company shortly after WWII. The company was located in a 3 story brick building in the garment district of Los Angeles, just south of downtown right by the Santa Monica Freeway. During the time they ran the company, they sold almost as many antiques as they did lamps. Marbro sold their products mainly through interior designers and a few upscale furniture stores. You would not find a Marbro product in a chain furniture store or a discount store. Most of the products were built to order. A typical order from a designer or retailer took between 75 and 90 days to complete. Most of the components that made up the lamp bodies (ceramic, brass, glass, etc) were purchased from small companies around the world. In the later years almost all of the brass came from India. For the most part, none of the bodies were made on site. Marbro was well-known for importing a variety of unique lighting components from all over the world. Italy was the source for alabaster, Japan and China for Porcelain, Brass in India and Crystal from Germany...

1960s Hollywood Regency Murano caged glass lamp by Marbro. Smoky topaz glass with a quilted diaper texture encased by an iron filigree cage. Or...

Marbro 1950s Italian Seguso Murano glass pineapple table lamp.

Midcentury Barovier and Toso Murano opaline caged art glass monumental table or floor lamp. Monumental!

These magnificent lamps are shipped as photographed and described, complete with new shades, harps and finials. Completely installation ready. A stellar pair of neoclassical style...

Spectacular pair of Italian yellow marble and satin brass table lamps by Marbro Lamp Co. Vibrant yellow color. Newly rewired and new vanilla ...

Jade ceramic ginger jar lamp on ebonized wood base. Solid brass Chinese "Double Happiness" symbol finial and hardware. Marbro Lamp Company, circa...

Pair of substantial table lamps by Marbro. Wonderfully distressed from natural use, the gilt and painted wood gourd-form bodies have a patina that only age can bring. Sold sans shades.

Massive tall Marbro lamp in a brass patinated and textured painted lamp circa 1950s double socket freshly rewired, with bakelite pull off/on-chain and balls, brass fittings, lampshad...

Substantial Six Foot Marbro Lighting Company Brass Table Lamp with White Milk Glass Shade. Statuesque sculptural fleur de lis form with Antique Brass finish. Stands approximately 6 f...

Pair of original grand scale Murano glass table lamps by Archimede Seguso imported by The Marbro Lamp Co., circa 1960. Both lamps signed. Ribbed opalescent silvery white glass with ...

Vintage hand painted ceramic table Lamp with original shade by Marbro, circa 1970 Measures: 11" diameter at the body x 9" diameter at the base 19" high to the top of the cerami...

Unusual; and extra-large carved alabaster lamp by Marbro, in original and working condition. This lamp has carved animal head details, as well as sw...

Spectacular pair of fleur-de-lis lamps by Marbro Lighting Co. This grand pair of glazed silver leaf lamps have been newly rewired for the US with polished brass double clusters that...

Pair of original grand scale Murano glass table lamps by Archimede Seguso imported by The Marbro Lamp Co. circa 1960. Both lamps signed. Ribbed opalescent silvery white glass with f...

Pair of large brass Egyptian style brass table lamps with hieroglyphic motif made in Italy for the Marbro Lamp Company, original "Marbro Lamp Co." label on lamps, American, 1960s.

Pair of Italian Murano glass table lamps with newly re-plated polished brass bases. Newly rewired with new polished brass hardware. New oatmeal linen shades. Made by The Marbro...

An Absolutely Stunning pair of large scale Marbro lamps. Components imported from India and assembled in the lighting workroom in Los Angeles, California circa 1960. Solid brass wit...

Marbro table lamp featuring a Bruno Merli, capodimonte porcelain bust of a female child on wood plinth base. Sold sans shade. Bruno Merli is known as the premier artist...