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.
Gerald Thurston Canister Reflector Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
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
Large Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass, Iron and Glass Chandelier
By Stilnovo, Gerald Thurston, Sciolari Lighting, Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
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
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Reading Floor Lamp with White Linen Shade. Featuring a joined tripod, three legged patinated Brass framework, original Off-White ena...
Brass, Metal
Pair or Mid Century Modern Tripod Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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
Thurston for Lightolier Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 for Lightolier Style Brass & White Triple Candlestick Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
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 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
$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 ...
$1,800Sale Price|28% Off
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Triple Gourd-Form Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chicago, IL
Stunning Lightolier table lamp in white satin glazed ceramic stacked spherical bodies. Each segment separated by a brass ring spacer. Base is a brass plate. The three socket lighting...
Brass, Metal
Black & Brass Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Black & Gold Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Excellent vintage condition with age appropriate wear. Minor tarnishing to brass and minor wear to saucer top. Measures ap...
Brass, Steel
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
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
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass and Metal Table Lamps
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of tables lamps designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier composed of oversized, fully-adjustable, black-metal shades and corresponding round bases with brass stems (ca. 1950s,...
Metal, 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
$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
Pair of Pristine Vintage Lumilon Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of pristine vintage Lumilon table lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Original one-piece shade-diffusers. UL listed.
Metal
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
Gerald Thurston for Stiffel Floor Lamp with New Custom Lamp Shade
By Stiffel, Gerald Thurston
Located in Austin, TX
Mid-century modern floor two-bulb lamp with a black and silver stem and a new custom white barrel shade.
Metal
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.
Metal
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
Pair of Tall Decorative Ceramic and Brass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant, sculptural table lamps by Gerald Thurston -- cream and light taupe ceramic form with patinated brass base and accents. Each lamp features a triple socket, serving as an ampl...
Brass
Gerald Thurston Parabolic Fin Table Lamp, Brass & Ceramic, 1950s
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
Early Floor Lamp in Black Lacquered Metal and Brass by Gerald Thurston, 1950's
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Early Floor Lamp in Black Lacquered Metal, Brass and Original Shade by Gerald Thurston, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Black lacquered metal, brass and original shade Styl...
Metal, Brass
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 ...
Marble, Brass
1950s Mid Century Honeycomb Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Designed by the renowned Gerald Thurston and manufactured by Lightolier in the 1950s, this exquisite mid-century table lamp is a bold fusion of sculptural form and functional design....
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
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...
Metal, Brass
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