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
Gerald Thurston Style Walnut, Brass & Glass Side Table, Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier style Walnut and Brass Combination Side Table Floor Lamp, circa 1960. Small footprint. Featuring a tubular Brass hourglass frame, doweled Walnut centre...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Pottery Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
1960s Mid-Century Modern pottery table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston.
Shades for photography only.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Pair of Gerald Thurston Lamps
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Pair of sculptural table lamps in a white Matte porcelain by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
The lamps each have three light sockets and they have been newly rewired.
One lamps has...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Ceramic and Brass Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Triple Gourd-Form Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
1950s American Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass, Metal
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
Ceramic and Brass Hourglass Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic midcentury table lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston. The lamp has a ceramic and brass body of wasted or hourglass, form elements, it is in very fine original, and working cond...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair Gerald Thurston Lightolier 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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Steel
Lightolier Gerald Thurston Mid Century Modern Fiberglass Wall Lamp! Sconce Decor
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Peoria, AZ
ICONIC!
Simply BEAUTIFUL Black
LIGHTOLIER DUAL SHADE WALL SCONCE
By GERALD THURSTON
Does your Case Study House need new lamps? This marvelous specimen is sure to be a welcome addit...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Ceramic Lamps by Thurston
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
Lightolier, Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gerald Thurston floor lamp by Lightolier. Features a brass and walnut base and a perforated brass shade. Measures: 17" diameter x 64.5" height.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
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
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
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
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 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 ...
Category
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass, Metal
Gerald Thurston Lightolier Wall Sconce Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
These lamps were covered outdoors, so we had to paint them and remove the rust. They need to be rewired and change where the bulbs screw in.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Metal, 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
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
Copper, 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 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Table Floor Lamp Mid Century Modern
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A Gerald Thurston Rocket lamp featuring three brass legs supporting a walnut stem. Featuring a white laminate table trimmed in solid walnut. Three sockets allow for an array of light...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Parabolic Fin Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gerald Thurston design Parabolic Fin table lamp for Lightolier, Circa 1950's.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Black enameled steel floor lamp with three brass arms holding a perforated steel reflector and shade.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Pair of Sculptural Lamps by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Sculptural table lamps in white matte porcelain by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
The lamps each have three light sources and they have been newly rewired.
There is a slight...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Gerald Thurston for Lightolier "Studio Porcelains" Dark Gray Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Black "Studio Porcelains" Pleated Table Lamp.
As seen in the 1958 Lightolier catalog.
Height dim to top of finial.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
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
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
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 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 Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
Vintage Gerald Thurston Porcelain Table Lamps for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chicago, IL
Gerald Thurston porcelain table lamps for Lightolier.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
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.