What a surprise.

Until this morning, I didn’t even know Richard Blow designed lamps and coasters.

I knew he created small boxes, obelisks, table tops and pictures (another term for his wall mosaics).. But lamps? And coasters to put under drinks?

The antique Montici PR flyer above confirms it.

We have over 300 Montici artworks logged in our Society database. But not a single lamp or coaster. I can understand the missing coasters. They would be cheaper to buy, easier to scratch or mar, and more likely to be tossed after a few years of use. They might make it to a garage sale at best.

But lamps are more expensive to produce, more elegant, more sturdy, more collectable. Richard Blow exhibited his mosaic boxes at MOMA in 1949 alongside a Noguchi desk lamp. So it’s not surprising that Richard might have been inspired to design lamps too. Lamps are always collectable. Isamu Noguchi lamps regularly appear at auction, and sell for $3,000-$5,000.

We know Richard created lamps.

We know they are eminently collectable.

So where are they, folks?

Michael Schmicker