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The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

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.

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Creator: The Marbro Lamp Company
Marbro Hand-Painted Parcel-Gilt White Porcelain Table Lamp
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-painted 50" tall gold leaf cherry blossoms on white ceramic chinoiserie table lamp by Marbro. Cast brass Ming style base, brushed brass stem and Dual socket illumination with br...
Category

1950s American Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Pair of Italian Yellow Marble and Brass Table Lamps by Marbro Lamp Co.
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Spectacular pair of Italian yellow marble and satin brass table lamps by Marbro Lamp Co. Vibrant yellow color. Newly rewired and new vanilla ...
Category

1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Marble, Brass

Bruno Merll for Marbro Capodimonte Child Bust Table Lamp
By The Marbro Lamp Company, Bruno Merli
Located in Chicago, IL
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...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Murano Opaline Caged Art Glass Monumental Table Floor Lamp Regency
By Barovier&Toso, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Midcentury Barovier and Toso Murano opaline caged art glass monumental table or floor lamp. Monumental!
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Marbro Table Lamp Chinese Peacocks
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Toledo, OH
Marbro lamp with carved Asian designs of peacocks and foliage. Original finish. Good wiring. Shade is not included.
Category

1970s North American Modern Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Composition

Marbro Oxblood Elephant-handled Chinese Urn Table Lamp Sangre de Boeuf Regency
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Marbro 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. 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 and antique dealers around the world. For the most part, none of the bodies were made on site. . 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. Here we have an astonishing example of Marbro production. This mid to late 18th century lusciously oxblood lacquered "sang de boeuf" Chinese urn was almost certainly a custom commission by a client, the owner of the Qing urn. The exceptional quality of the urn, it's size, gentle proportions, the even application of the oxblood glaze (especially over the stunning elephant handles) are of a quality that I have not seen before in a lamp. The Marbro artisans truly did right by their client, as they allowed the exceptional form and color of the Chinese antique take center stage. The simple base follows the proportion of the body yet perfectly echoes the angle and curve of the elephant trunk handles. Victorian lampshade...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Qing Antique The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Clear Marbro Amphora Murano Table Lamp
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in North Miami, FL
Extraordinary example of Marbro lamps in urn design mounted on square chrome base. Two sockets. Shade NOT included.
Category

1970s Italian Classical Roman Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Hollywood Regency Italian Midcentury Gold Glass Lamp on Iron Base by Marbro
By Feldman Lighting Co., James Mont, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Houston, TX
Hollywood Regency Italian midcentury gold glass lamp on iron base by Marbro. Large scale Italian gold blown glass on interesting Asian Modern iron base. This high quality Hollywood Regency glass lamp...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Iron

Pair of Vintage Ceramic Metallic Silver Glaze Ball Lamps by Marbro, circa 1970
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of vintage ceramic metallic silver glaze ball lamps by Marbro circa 1970 Gorgeous lamps with metallic silver spots. The black shades are included in "as is" condition. The...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Marbro Table Lamp
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Signed and numbered Marbro ceramic table lamp with new finial. Shade not included.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

The Marbro Lamp Company table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

The Marbro Lamp Company table lamps are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of The Marbro Lamp Company table lamps, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original table lamps by The Marbro Lamp Company were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider table lamps by Stiffel, Marshall Studios, and Design Technics. Prices for The Marbro Lamp Company table lamps can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $375 and can go as high as $22,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,250.
Questions About The Marbro Lamp Company Table Lamps
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    There are a few ways to identify if your table lamp is vintage, but it does vary from brand to brand. If you can spot a maker’s mark or manufacturer’s label on your piece, it could tell you where and when it was crafted. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary table lamps from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024
    The history of Marbro lamps dates back to 1934, when brothers Morris and Elliott Markoff founded the Marbro Lamp Company. 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. 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, explore a variety of Marbro lamps.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024
    No, 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, 2023
    There 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.

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