Gerry Moss
American
Moss lamps were a product born of necessity. In 1937, Gerald “Gerry” Moss founded San Francisco’s Moss Manufacturing Company, after previous experience as a lamp wholesaler. When the wholesale building burnt down, Mr. Moss had two options: go into manufacturing, or go out of business. He chose the former.
The first Moss lamps were traditional ones, metal-stemmed with fabric shades, intended to blend into, rather than dominate, home decor. Then, World War II intervened. With steel at a premium, luxuries such as metal lamps were given low priority. Forced to come up with a new raw material for the company’s products, Gerry Moss turned to staff designer Duke Smith. Smith had the answer: Plexiglas.
Dubbed “plastic” in the Moss literature, Plexiglas (“plexi”) was an acrylic product developed in 1934 by the Rohm & Haas Company. For Moss Manufacturing, Plexiglas had several points in its favor: it was inexpensive, no other company was using it – and most importantly, Plexiglas was not rationed. Lamp production at Moss could continue, although now with an entirely new focus.
The first Moss lamps were traditional ones, metal-stemmed with fabric shades, intended to blend into, rather than dominate, home decor. Then, World War II intervened. With steel at a premium, luxuries such as metal lamps were given low priority. Forced to come up with a new raw material for the company’s products, Gerry Moss turned to staff designer Duke Smith. Smith had the answer: Plexiglas.
Dubbed “plastic” in the Moss literature, Plexiglas (“plexi”) was an acrylic product developed in 1934 by the Rohm & Haas Company. For Moss Manufacturing, Plexiglas had several points in its favor: it was inexpensive, no other company was using it – and most importantly, Plexiglas was not rationed. Lamp production at Moss could continue, although now with an entirely new focus.
Moss Manufacturing Company, San Francisco, CA
Gerry Moss
Amazing Pair of Rare Moss Lamps with Ceramic Figures of Conga Player and Dancer
H 27 in W 25 in D 19 in
$ 7,800
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