Gerald Thurston Furniture
American
As the leading designer at Lightolier during the postwar building and design boom, Gerald Thurston created his clever lighting — sleek floor lamps, table lamps and desk lamps — to suit the American lifestyles of 1950s and 1960s. His designs were at the forefront of the mid-century modern lighting revolution — like much of the visionary work being done at the time in furniture and interiors, Thurston’s fixtures are both elegant and totally innovative, reflecting the exploration of new ideas and new technology that consumed designers of the era.
Thurston eventually led a stellar team of international lighting designers at Lightolier. He was important to the pioneering East Coast–based electric lighting company, and rumor has it that because he sketched every design on craft paper, the manufacturer insured his right hand for one million American dollars.
While enrolled in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the 1930s, where he earned his degree in industrial design, Thurston worked as a freelance designer for the Zenith Radio Corporation. Once he graduated, he found a position at the New Metal Craft Company. There he designed custom lighting fixtures and decorative objects for architects and interior designers.
Lightolier enticed Thurston to join them in approximately 1950. That same year, New York’s Museum of Modern Art featured a green floor lamp of his in their Good Design Exhibition of 1950. The sculptural lamps that Thurston created for Lightolier are representative of his interest in Scandinavian modernist lighting as well as the revolutionary designs produced by postwar Italian companies such as Arredoluce and Arteluce. (Lightolier partnered with the latter, and Thurston found inspiration in the work of Arteluce founder Gino Sarfatti.)
During Thurston’s decades-long tenure with Lightolier, he became internationally known for his many designs. His modernist fixtures are characterized by clean lines, vibrant colors and an appealing meld of metals and rich woods. His slender-legged Lightolier Tripod floor lamp, introduced in the 1960s, garnered widespread acclaim, while his whimsical Cricket lamp, with its arthropodan shade and slim brass frame, is wholly versatile — it can be hung as a sconce or positioned on a desk and offers direct or diffused light.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Gerald Thurston lighting, decorative objects and more.
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Creator: Gerald Thurston
Majestic Lamp Co. Walnut, Brass & Glass Side Table, Floor Lamp, 1960's
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Majestic Lamp Company Walnut & Brass Combination Side Table Floor Lamp. Small footprint. Featuring a tubular Brass hourglass frame, doweled Walnut centrepiece, round glass table surf...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Porcelain Hourglass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning pair of vintage table lamps that exude sophistication and style - a true collector's item for those who appreciate mid-century modern design. These lamps were designed by th...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Ceramic Lamps by Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Very stylish and sophisticated pair of ceramic lamps, designed by Gerald Thurston, for Lightolier. The ceramic body has an Aztec influence motif, each mounted on a solid wood plinth ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
$3,200 / set
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Hanover, MA
Mid-1950's three light floor lamp produced by Lightolier and designed by Gerald Thurston. The style of the pierced polished brass tapered bowls appears to have been influenced by the...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass, Copper
1950s Marble Brass Table Lamp Gerald Thurston Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Elegant Table Lamp designed by Gerald Thurston and produced by Lightolier
Lamp is supported by a colorful, faceted marble base. Three-way light socket.
27 tall to finial x 7.5 ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Mid Century Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Articulating Desk Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Very chic midcentury articulating desk lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Professionally restored and rewired.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
Impeccable Extendable Arm Lumilux Study Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impeccable extendable arm Lumilux study lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Brushed brass base with original one-piece molded shade-diffuser in excellen...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Lightolier Chandelier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for efficient shipping quote to your location.
Lightolier Hanging Chandelier designed by Gerald Thurston.
Formed Glass Discs, Chrome Trim.
Category
1960s Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Rare! Mid Century Modern Lightolier Twin Articulating Lamp Gerald Thurston 1955
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Peoria, AZ
RARE & FABULOUS!
MID CENTURY MODERN
GERALD THURSTON
TWIN FIBERGLASS SHADE
ARTICULATING DESK LAMP!
CONICAL DESIGN!
CIRCA 1955
DIMENSIONS: APPROXIMATELY 25" TALL by 16" WIDE
Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
$1,440 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Etched Glass and Brass Sconces
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of brass double hurricane sconces by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Each solid brass sconce has a double hurricane shade, with the inner ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Impeccable Extendable Arm Lumilux Study Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impeccable extendable arm Lumilux study lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Brushed brass base with original one-piece molded shade-diffuser in excellen...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Porcelain Lamps
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Classic ivory glazed porcelain lamps with speckled horizontal stripes resting on matte finished bases with an aged brass band. Lamps have been rewired for use in the USA ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
$4,500 / set
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Accent Table Lamp in Gloss Black & Polished Brass
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Stamford, CT
Over the last century, lighting design has experienced a remarkable transformation. Today’s designers continue to explore bold new forms and materials, but the spirit of this innovat...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Impeccable Extendable Arm Lumilux Study Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impeccable extendable arm Lumilux study lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Brushed brass base with original one-piece molded shade-diffuser in excellen...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Walnut and Brass Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier mid century walnut and brass floor lamp
This lamp measures: 15 wide x 15 deep x 54.5 inches high
This lamp is in Fair Vintage Condition with some...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
1950s Mid Century Honeycomb Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in North Hollywood, CA
✨ Mid-Century Honeycomb Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier ✨
Designed by the renowned Gerald Thurston and manufactured by Lightolier in the 1950s, this exquisite mid-centu...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier American Mid-Century Parabolic Fin Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century (1950s) Parabolic Fin brass and ceramic table lamp with a tapered square shape (GERALD THURSTON FOR LIGHTOLIER)
Category
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
1960s Stylized Space Age Gerald Thurston Reading Floor Lamps Mid-Century Modern
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Gerald Thurston stylized matching space age reading floor lamps.
These rare Gerald Thurston Space age lamps (2) are in excellent vintage condition.
Gorgeous shades that hover like a space ship.
Great lighting ability for reading. Perfect matching reading lamps for you both.
Excellent vintage condition and consistent with age and use throughout the years.
Color is a light creamy beige with a double gold band on each metal shade.
Dimensions:
45" tall
18" elbow to shade
11 x 4...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
Walnut and Chrome Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Denton, TX
Walnut and chrome table lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Hourglass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of striking, Mid-Century Modern, table lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier feature brown and beige ceramic hourglass bodies with brass accents - base, neck, pull chains and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Desk / Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Complete and Original.
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Kansas City, MO
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier desk / table lamp. All original enameled aluminum shade and base with original diffuser and brass stem. The diffuser is complete and in great conditio...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Gaetano Sciolari "Cage" Pendant Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Highland, IN
A wonderful example of Sciolari's playful experiments in lighting design, the wire cage lamp came in a taller oval form and this round coiled shape that i...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Gerald Thurston Mid Century White Aluminum and Brass Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Gerald Thurston Mid Century White Aluminum and Brass Table Lamp
Original Plastic Shade and Dimmer
This piece measures: 11 wide x 11 deep x 22 inches high and weighs 3.6 pounds
Ex...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Gerald Thurston Scissor Task Lamp Wall Sconce
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, task lamp, wall sconce by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier features an adjustable, 5.5 inch diameter, painted metal shade on a brass stem and wall plate with an acc...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier American Porcelain Hourglass Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Brown, Beige, and White ceramic and brass trimmed Hourglass shaped Table Lamp (GERALD THURSTON FOR LIGHOLIER)
Category
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Torchere Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston / Carl Moser for Lightolier, 1953
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Classic uplight torchère floor lamp with three vertical brass rods supporting a shallow brass bowl and wider glass shade. The base designed by Gerald Thurston with a textured, fire a...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Polychrome Metal Adjustable Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Montreal, QC
Polychrome metal floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Includes an upward reflector and an adjustable reading lamp.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Mid-Century Gerald Thurston Black Ceramic Table Lamps
By Gerald Thurston
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair of sculptural table lamps in black matte ceramic by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
The lamps each have three light sources and pull chain.
Very tall and elegant!
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Gerald Thurston furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Gerald Thurston furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gerald Thurston furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Gerald Thurston were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Robert Sonneman, Stiffel, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. Prices for Gerald Thurston furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $395 and can go as high as $7,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,200.