The Lamp Master

Famed New York Design Star is Bringing the Light to Houston

By Anne Lee Phillips // Apr 10, 2017

Parse the most beautifully decorated rooms and you’ll notice a recurring element, a talisman of sorts — a Christopher Spitzmiller lamp (or two).

Spitzmiller, who first delved into making pottery during boarding school in New Hampshire, began his career as a ceramicist in Georgetown after graduating from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, and quickly received critical acclaim. In the summers, he served as an artist-in-residence in the back of Southampton’s Mecox Gardens, molding clay on the wheel and attracting bold-faced designer names, who would soon become cult-followers. The late Albert Hadley commissioned his work and became Spitzmiller’s longtime mentor. The late Bunny Mellon was also a client, and Spitzmiller counts designers Richard Keith Langham, Suzanne Rheinstein, and Bunny Williams as current clients.

Spitzmiller is most famous for his lamps, and employs a team of skilled artisans in his New York City studio to handcraft each one, which feature classical-inspired shapes, traditional gem-like glazes, and hand-turned, 23K yellow-gold or 9K white-gold water-gilded bases, which range in price from $2,000 to $4,000.

Last year, Spitzmiller introduced a handsome collection of tabletop pieces (starting at $95) in his signature marbleized pattern, crafted in the same style as his lamps — first made by Spitzmiller himself on a potter’s wheel, then glazed by a skilled artisan.

Now, the master ceramicist is headed to Houston. Meet Spitzmiller at Found on Thursday, April 13, 10 am to 5 pm, for a trunk showing of one-off accessories for the table, large bowls, vases and cachepots ($95 to $4,000), in addition to already stocked lamps. Found, 3433 W. Alabama, 713.522.9191.