Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/820209
Coy lamp, and Neta lamp, right, for Visual Comfort EVERYTHING BY ANNE LEE PHILLIPS I S I L L U M I N A T E D Christopher Spitzmiller fi rst delved into pottery during boarding school in New Hampshire and began his career as a ceramicist in Georgetown after graduating from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. In the summers, he served as an artist- in-residence in a back room of Southampton's Mecox Gardens, molding clay on the wheel and attracting boldfaced designer names, who would soon become cult followers. The late Albert Hadley commissioned his work and along the way became Spitzmiller's longtime mentor. The late Bunny Mellon was a client, and Spitzmiller counts designers Richard Keith Langham, Suzanne Rheinstein, and Bunny Williams as friends and clients. Known for his perfect-proportioned and luscious-colored lamps, he employs a team of skilled artisans in his New York City studio to handcraft each one, with classical- inspired shapes, traditional gem-like glazes, and hand-turned 23K yellow-gold or 9K white-gold water-gilded bases. Each of these beauties will set you back $2,000 to $4,000 (fi nd them locally at Mecox) — until now. Houston-based lighting manufacturer Visual Comfort has collaborated with Spitzmiller on a collection of lamps designed to bring his works of art to life in a production environment, which makes them more accessible and affordable. The 15 handcrafted, vibrantly glazed lamps and tole pendant lights come in a wide variety of colors; Spitzmiller describes the collection as "young, fresh, modern, and based on tradition … I try to reach a timeless audience, designing a product that will endure and enrich for years to come." Timeless, indeed — his lamps have graced the White House for the past two administrations. From $630, at Taylors on Ten, 2050 N. Stemmons Freeway, taylorsdallas.com. EVERYTHING I S I L L U M I N A T E D and hand-turned 23K yellow-gold or 9K white-gold water-gilded bases. Each of these beauties will set you Houston-based lighting manufacturer Visual Comfort has collaborated with Spitzmiller on a collection of lamps designed to bring his works of art to life in a production environment, which makes them more accessible and affordable. The 15 handcrafted, vibrantly glazed lamps and tole pendant lights come in a wide variety of colors; Spitzmiller describes the collection as "young, fresh, modern, and based on tradition … I try to reach a timeless audience, designing a product that will endure and enrich for years to come." Timeless, indeed — his lamps have graced the White House for the past two administrations. From Taylors on Ten, 2050 N. Stemmons PARSE THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED ROOMS, AND YOU'LL NOTICE A RECURRING ELEMENT, A TALISMAN OF SORTS — A CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER LAMP (OR TWO). GEORGE CAMERON NASH at FOR HOME FORTY FIVE TEN