ars longa * 05-127. Gordon Martz Floor lamp with tiled tabletop.

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05-127. Gordon Martz
Floor lamp with tiled tabletop
Marshall Studios, Inc.
USA, c. 1960
19 x 19 x 60"
Glazed ceramic, walnut, & electrical fixtures
Unsigned

I already have too many lamps than I can use, and now I have way one more to add to the stash. I so rarely find Martz designs in the wild, that it is very difficult to pass them up. Even though this lamp is missing its original walnut finial, has lost the handmade shade by Jane Martz, and has a bit of wear and tear from age, I still couldn't pass it by.

The main reason I couldn't leave it was that it is simply a great example of the masculine midcentury style many Martz designs exhibit. The darkness of the beautiful walnut wood and hand-made tiles create a shadowy look, which would be at home both in a completely modernist space as well as a rustic hunting lodge. It is a beautiful piece of artistry.

Found on November 19, 2005 in Minneapolis, MN.

David Harris said: I just found an identical walnut lamp table at UpSix in St. Paul. I bought it. It has the finial and what I believe to be the origional shade. They clearly didn't know what it was. I also found a pair of teak side tables at Theater Antiques. The tables have an identical base and table top and must be Martz as well. Where did you get this lamp? What is the value of this item?
2.7.06

Scott said: Great luck finding the Martz floor lamp with the original shade! The shade will really help your value, but I'm not an expert by any means. Try checking the Wright 20 or Rago/Sollo auction websites and seeing if they've sold any similar lamps. I'm fairly sure one of the two has had some Martz floor lamps in recent years. That'll give you a better idea of value. Martz definitely did produce a set of nesting tables in this same style. There's a photo of them on Modish.net somewhere in the user galleries. Happy hunting!
2.7.06

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