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.
Thurston for Lightolier Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid-Century Modern table lamp. Brass colored metal with faux wood insert trim, on teardrop form base. Wo...
Metal
Gerald Thurston Canister Reflector Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Denton, TX
Aluminum cylinder with black metal base and pleated interior by Gerald Thurston. Best used as a floor up light to create a moody ambiance or to highlight a architechual element in th...
Metal, Aluminum
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Tripod Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for accurate shipping to your location. Tripod Floor Lamp. Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Wrought Iron
Gerald Thurston White Candlestick Lamp with Black & White Stripe Metal Shade
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier White Table Lamp with Striped Shade, 1950's. Featuring a White stem, three Brass arms, triple White enameled candlestick sockets, stenciled Black and ...
Brass, Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Ceramic and Brass Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and chic, quilted ceramic body with brass base and top. Excellent overall condition, slight bruise on brass base, as shown. Base accepts three bulbs to provide ample light. S...
Brass
Large Gerald Thurston For Lightolier Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
1950's Gerald Thurston for Lightolier ceramic and brass large table lamp. Shade for photography only.
Brass
Pair Gerald Thurston Lightolier Black Iron Tripod Table Lamps with Glass Shades
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier black and white table lamps, 1950s. Featuring balanced black enameled steel tripod legs, socket and neck, period white milk glass shades atop r...
Steel
Large Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass, Iron and Glass Chandelier
By Gerald Thurston, Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier, Sciolari Lighting, Stilnovo
Located in Houston, TX
Large Gerald Thurston for Lightolier brass, Iron and glass chandelier. Rare large Mid-Century Modern chandelier by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. This stunning modernist chandelier...
Brass, Iron
Pair or Mid Century Modern Tripod Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural tripod table lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier C1955. In amazing original condition with the original shades. Brass is still l...
Brass, Sheet Metal
Vintage Enameled Metal and Brass Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier table/desk lamp with oversized, fully adjustable shade (ca. 1950s, USA). Black enameled metal and plexi hood with brass stem/accents and original, plas...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
$3,200 / set
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 ...
Mid Century Articulating Desk Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Iconic desk lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, all original, no missing parts or dents, great patina on brass, minor flaking on weighted handle, please see photos. Work...
Brass, Enamel, Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Floor Lamp Walnut and Brass
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Fraser, MI
Lightolier Floor Lamp designed by Gerald Thurston. Brass stem with Walnut center cylinder. Rewired.
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Style Brass & White Triple Candlestick Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier attributed Brass & Candlestick Table Lamp. Featuring tri curved Brass base, triple enameled White metal candlesticks, original Brass ring finial, shown...
Marble, Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Slender Black Table Lamp with Brass details
By Tommi Parzinger, Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tall Gerald Thurston attributed Lightolier black enameled table lamp Featuring a slender all black enameled elongated metal hourglass stem, elevated above a round 7.5D Black enameled balanced base supported by a weighted Cast Iron underside. With lacquered Brass accents throughout. Original triple Ceramic sockets and finial. 23H to top of socket. Black Mesh Lamp...
Metal, Brass, Iron
$4,500 / set
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 ...
Brass
Gerald Thurston Scissor Task Lamp Wall Sconce
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Metal, Brass
Porcelain Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Westport, CT
Speckled porcelain and brass table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightiolier, circa 1950-1959. Completely rewired, newly white linen shade included. Other designers of the ...
Brass
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...
Brass
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...
Brass
Mid Century Modern Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Articulating Desk Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
A masterful blend of utility and sculpture, this desk lamp was designed by the influential American modernist Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. The piece features a striking matte blac...
Metal
1950s Mid-Century Gerald Thurston for Lightolier 'Honeycomb' Ceramic Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An exquisite statement piece of mid-century lighting design, this vintage table lamp was designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier in the 1950s. Featuring an hourglass ceramic base ...
Brass
$1,800Sale Price / set|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 ...
Brass
Stained Oak Tripod Table Lamp with Diffuser and Shade by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Atomic-style table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston, circa 1950s. Sculptural tripod base in stained oak with brass stem and original milk glass diffuser. The vintage linen shade show...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Tulip Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Tulip floor lamp. Offered is a beautiful Mid-Century Modern vintage floor lamp. The lamp is made of brass. It is in good vintage condition, has ...
Brass
Thomas Moser floor lamp by Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Highland, IN
This great floor lamp is architectural with a restrained playfulness, it employs innovative materials (perforated steel) and reflected light for a nice mix of direct and indirect ill...
Brass, Steel
Gerald Thurston Parabolic Fin Table Lamp, Brass & Ceramic, Mid-Century
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)
Brass
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...
Aluminum, 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...
Aluminum, Brass
Mid Century Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Tall elegant elongated table lamp having a metal base, bulbous wood body, and brass neck section. Diameter of base 7 inch x diameter of body 4.5 i...
Metal
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 ...
Brass