Gerald Thurston Lighting
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 for Lightolier Style All Brass Desk Lamp with Adjustable Shade
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston for Lightolier style brass desk lamp. Featuring a sturdy Brass plated tubular stem, round balanced, weighted 6D base, turn switch to base, adjusting Black enameled interior Brass shade head (8.25 W x 3W) extending to 10W with Cast Iron handle...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Stylish architectural table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston. The lamp has a white ribbed conical base with a brass decorative ball shaft. The lamp accepts three standard size screw ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Black & Brass Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass, Steel
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 Lighting
$3,200 / set
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Metal
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
$1,800 Sale Price
28% 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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass and Metal Table Lamps
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Metal, 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.
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
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 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,036 Sale Price
20% Off
Gerald Thurston Lightolier Ceramic Gourd Lamps
By Gerald Thurston
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Two Gerald Thurston for Lightolier ceramic gourd lamps. Priced $1,800 each. The brass bases and spacers are in either dark dark bronze finish or pol...
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,800 / item
Porcelain Hourglass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston, 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Porcelain Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 Lighting
Materials
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 Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
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 Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, 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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Mid Century Modern Walnut & Brass Lamp Tripod Base
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Toledo, OH
Gerald Thurston mid century modern table lamp with three Leviton sockets. Each has a thumb switch under the sockets. Roller switch on the cord. Brass and metal tripod base with a wal...
Category
20th Century North American Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,425 Sale Price
25% Off
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...
Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Metal, 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 Lighting
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 Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Vintage Ceramic Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chicago, IL
Midcentury vintage ceramic lamp base by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
As shown, ceramic base requires specifying hardware and wiring. First photo with black shade is for reference...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
1950s Mid Century Honeycomb Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 Lighting
Materials
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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Gerald Thurston lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Gerald Thurston lighting 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 lighting, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original lighting 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 lighting by Robert Sonneman, Stiffel, and The Marbro Lamp Company. Prices for Gerald Thurston lighting 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.