Monterey-Style Floor Lamp by Cliff May L870

Distinctive Monterey-style floor lamp attributed to renowned California architect and designer Cliff May, featuring a beautifully hand-painted decorative column with colorful floral and foliate motifs. The vibrant red, green, yellow, and blue painted details create a wonderful Southwestern/Spanish Colonial character, while the wrought iron base and upper metal fixture add an authentic rustic quality. A fantastic decorative lighting piece for collectors of Monterey-style furniture and classic California design. Circa 1920s.

The lamp has an impressive tall, slender profile and is topped with a large, traditional cream shade. The combination of hand-painted decoration, wrought iron elements, and warm aged materials makes this an especially eye-catching example of Monterey-style design.

The lamp is in working condition, with the wiring being in good usable condition. Shows some minor age-appropriate wear throughout, including surface oxidation/patina to the metal, scratches, finish wear, and imperfections to the painted decoration. 

About the Artist:

Cliff May was born in San Diego in 1908. As a young man, May built Monterey-style furniture before, in 1931, he began his work as a designer/builder in San Diego and La Jolla. 

May moved to Los Angeles in 1936, where he expanded his design work into development. By 1941, he had established a national reputation as the designer of the California Ranch House. After World War II he collaborated with Sunset Magazine in publishing the book Western Ranch Houses.

During the following decades May designed houses which were built in the U.S., Europe, South America, and elsewhere. In total over one thousand custom homes, and several tract house plans resulting in more than 18,000 homes came from his pen. His patio-oriented ranch style houses have been extensively copied by developers across the country.

Measures 18" x 18" x 54.5"