Marbro Lamp History

Marbro Lamp Company was founded by Morrislamps and shades that are some of last of their
Markoff and his brother, hence the name Marbrokind of art. For example, Marbro brass was never
from Markoff brothers. They started thejust plain brass. It was stained with a tinting that
company shortly after WWII. The company waswas homemade and kept secret by the company
located in a 3 story brick building in the garment(reminiscent of Handel Lamp Co.). There were
district of Los Angeles, just south of downtownquite a few of these preparations all kept in one
right by the Santa Monica Freeway. During theof those little metal boxes on a 3x5" file card just
time they ran the company, they sold almost aslike a recipe. It was truly unique.
many antiques as they did lamps.Many of the lamp bodies that were bought were
They also had a sizable business in decorativenot exactly matched as pairs. Sometimes 10-20
accessories such as tables, and a lot of animalcrystal vases would have to be sorted through to
figurines. There were quite a few dog figurinesget 2 of the exact same height so that if the
that were life size. One dog figurine was a life sizelamps were purchased as a pair, they would
Great Dane purchased by the actor Jack Webbmatch. All of the shades were made by hand by
(Dragnet). There were quite a few celebrities thata group of women on the second floor of the
came in to their shop. One actress who shoppedbuilding with very little automation.
there repeatedly was Deborah Shelton who atThe lamps were considered high style fine lamps
the time played the part of "Mandy" on Dallasfor the times and presently. Brass and porcelain
(remember J.R.).lamps would wholesale for a$300 - $3,000 while
Marbro sold their products mainly through interiorcrystal and bronze lamps were $2,000 - $4,000.
designers and a few upscale furniture stores. YouThe manufacturing plant was closed in Los
would not find a Marbro product in a chainAngeles in December 1990 and the inventory and
furniture store or discount store. Most of theequipment were moved to LaBarge Mirrors in
products were built to order, and a typical orderHolland, MI. At the time LaBarge Mirrors was a
from a designer or retailer took between 75 andMasco Corp subsidiary. Some time later, the
90 days to complete.Marbro product line was discontinued. Eventually,
Most of the components that made up the lampMasco sold most of their home furnishings
bodies (ceramic, brass etc) were purchased frommanufacturing holdings.
small companies around the world (see porcelainMarbo assembled a very talented, experienced
figure from Italy at top of page). In the laterand most unique group of artists and craftsmen
years almost all of the brass came from India. Forand many of their fine lamps exhibit a certain
the most part, none of the bodies were made ondistinctive style. Most of the employees were in
site. Marbro was well-known for importing atheir 50's and older. There were quite a few
variety of unique lighting from all over the world.employees in their late 60's and 70's. Today their
Italy was the source for alabaster, Japan andlamps are very collectible and sought after
China for Porcelain, Brass in India and Crystal fromespecially by knowledgeable collectors who are
Germany and France. Lamps would also be madefamiliar with the company's lamps and history.
from sculptures that customers brought in to theIt is obvious from the company's careful selection
shop.of art objects and their unique proprietary
Once the lamp bodies arrived, a group of Marbromethods of lamp making that their goal was to
employees would make the wood bases, spin thedesign beautiful unique and very high quality lamps.
metal caps, make the shades, and do the paintingTheir success is obvious from the very fine
and tinting. With the help of about 20-40 othercollectible Marbro lamps that are still sought after
true world class artisans, metal workers, finisherstoday.
and hand made shade makers, they produced