Set of 2 Carlo Moretti Murano Art Glass Blue & White Encased Vases Raymor Italy

Italian glassmaker Carlo Moretti elevated glassmaking to an avant-garde art form. He is known for his decorative vases, striking centerpieces and elegant table lamps. The bright, rich colors and sophisticated silhouettes of mid-century modernism that characterize his works brought high prestige to the Moretti name. 

Moretti was born in 1934 on Murano, a series of islands in the Venetian lagoon, a place famous for its glassmaking. Six years later, in 1940, his brother Giovanni Moretti was born. The older Moretti brother initially studied to become a lawyer, but he fell in love with the glassmaking tradition of his birthplace. 

In 1958, the two brothers opened the Carlo Moretti glassmaking company together in Murano. Carlo headed the company's creative side, but he was also a savvy entrepreneur. The Carlo Moretti company became known for its innovative techniques, creativity in design and refined style. 

Over the next 50 years, Moretti earned a name for himself as one of the Venetian glass masters. He was the recipient of the 1966 Internationalen Handwerksmesse Gold Medal, the 1966 Internationales Kunsthandwerk Award, the 1976 Macef Award and the 1984 Arango International Design Competition. His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Musée Ariana and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. 

When Moretti died in 2008, Giovanni took over the company. Giovanni sold the Carlo Moretti company in 2013 and passed away in 2014. The company continues to introduce new glassware collections in the characteristic style of its founder. It also operates a showroom called L’ISOLA in Venice.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Carlo Moretti decorative objects, serveware, lighting and more.

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.