Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

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.

Creator: Gerald Thurston

Rare Pair Wall Swing-Arm Lamps by Gerald Thurston

$2,280Sale Price / set|33% Off

Rare Pair Wall Swing-Arm Lamps by Gerald Thurston

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in South Charleston, WV

Sleek and Versatile, this pair of wall lamps by Gerald Thurston that provides elegant lighting with a sophisticated approach to wall sconce illumination. 17.5" tall, 14" deep and 8" ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Wall Light Sconce Gerald Thurston Lightolier

$2,400

Wall Light Sconce Gerald Thurston Lightolier

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in New York, NY

Large wall light sconce Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Handcrafted glass with white and gold colored glass overlay creating a bursting display...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Taupe "Cricket" Desk Lamp, Circa 1955

$3,300

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Taupe "Cricket" Desk Lamp, Circa 1955

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Bainbridge, NY

Original Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Dark Camel "Cricket" Table Lamp, Wall Lamp. Featuring the adjustable perforated dome Bakelite Shade in a natural, earthen coloration (Pantone ...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Steel

2 Pairs Mid Century Modern Glass & Brass Wall Sconces by Progress Lighting

$1,595 / set

2 Pairs Mid Century Modern Glass & Brass Wall Sconces by Progress Lighting

By Gerald Thurston

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous painted curved and tapered glass & brass wall sconces by progress lighting c1955. Painted glass shades with a geometric pattern in gold & white. Two pairs available and in e...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gerald Thurston Scissor Task Lamp Wall Sconce

$1,400

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gerald Thurston Canister Reflector Lamps by Lightolier

$2,200 / set

Gerald Thurston Canister Reflector Lamps by Lightolier

By Gerald Thurston

Located in New York, NY

Pair of Gerald Thurston powder coated aluminum canister lamps reflect light from the back of the lamp. Very beautiful illumination.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Etched Glass and Brass Sconces

$1,800Sale Price / set|20% Off

Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Etched Glass and Brass Sconces

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

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 Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Brass Mid Century Modern Wall Sconces

$1,100 / set

H 10 in W 11.5 in D 7 in

Pair of Brass Mid Century Modern Wall Sconces

Located in Nantucket, MA

A pair of triangular, Mid-Century Modern wall sconces with brass plates and a mesh center. Rewired for American use and takes a standard base light bulb. The Lockhart Collection is ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Elegant Table Lamp or Desk Light by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier USA 1950s

$3,013

H 20.08 in W 14.57 in D 16.15 in

Elegant Table Lamp or Desk Light by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier USA 1950s

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Munich, DE

Elegant Mid-Century Modern table lamp or desk light. Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, USA, 1950s. Executed in brass, aluminium, lucite and metal, the table lamp comes wit...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Metal

Marsala Brass Wall Sconce Mid-Century Modern Lighting

$1,375 / item

H 15.74 in W 4.72 in D 3.93 in

Marsala Brass Wall Sconce Mid-Century Modern Lighting

Located in İstiklal, TR

MARSALA brass wall sconce, a stunning example of mid-century modern style lighting. This exquisite wall sconce is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, featuring a body compos...

Category

2010s Turkish Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Articulating Desk Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

$1,200

H 16 in W 12 in D 24 in

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...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass, Enamel

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s

$3,500

H 56 in Dm 20 in

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

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...

Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

Mid-Century Modern Italian Wall Sconce in Brass and Opaline Glass

$1,250

H 7.49 in W 4.73 in D 7.09 in

Mid-Century Modern Italian Wall Sconce in Brass and Opaline Glass

Located in Rome, IT

A elegantly designed Italian wall sconce from the 1950s, crafted with a combination of materials that highlight the modern aesthetic of the era. The sconce features a sleek, enamel-...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

1950s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, Lightolier, USA

$1,495Sale Price|25% Off

H 24 in W 18 in D 18 in

1950s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, Lightolier, USA

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in St- Leonard, Quebec

Elegant table lamp made of walnut, brass with plastic shade. By Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Marked.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

1950s Gerald Thurston Perforated Cone Pendant , USA

$2,400Sale Price|20% Off

H 12.5 in Dm 16 in

1950s Gerald Thurston Perforated Cone Pendant , USA

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in St- Leonard, Quebec

Classic pendant from the 50s by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier . Brass plated shade with perforated enameled steel cone . Bakelite knob under . Contain one E26 size socket rat...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Gerald Thurston Mid-Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp

$1,500

H 22.5 in Dm 15 in

Gerald Thurston Mid-Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Toledo, OH

Iconic mid-century modern tripod table lamp by George Thurston for Lightolier from the 1950's. The lamp features 3 original sockets with a turn switch, 3 brass and walnut legs, and t...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gerald Thurston Mid Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp for Lightolier

$970

H 22 in Dm 17.5 in

Gerald Thurston Mid Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp for Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Chesterfield, NJ

Iconic mid century 1950s tripod table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston and made by high quality manufacturer, Lightolier. This lamp has a perforated white enameled metal diffuser con...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Modernist Triennale Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

$1,850

H 59 in W 20 in D 20 in

Modernist Triennale Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Buffalo, NY

Beautiful and extremely well made three shade floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Made of brass and black painted metal, each shade retains its original metal swir...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Brass and Opaline Glass Wall Sconces, 1950s

$4,400 / set

H 20.08 in W 4.73 in D 5.91 in

Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Brass and Opaline Glass Wall Sconces, 1950s

Located in Rome, IT

Pair of elegant Italian wall sconces, designed and produced in the 1950s, reflecting a sophisticated Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Each sconce is crafted with a slim black enameled i...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Previously Available Items

Rare Gerald Thurston Lightolier extensible and adjustable wall lamp

Sold

H 16 in W 17 in D 30 in

Rare Gerald Thurston Lightolier extensible and adjustable wall lamp

By Gerald Thurston

Located in Montréal, QC

Rare Gerard Thurston extensible and adjustable wall lamp in walnut and brass with original raffia grass shade. The lamp can be extended by pulling out the brass arm and the angle can...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Gerald Thurston Lightolier Wall Sconce Lamp

Sold

H 8.67 in W 19.69 in D 8.86 in

Gerald Thurston Lightolier Wall Sconce Lamp

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

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 Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

1950s Industrial Atomic Age Scissor Multidirectional Wall Lamp by Lightolier

Sold

H 8 in W 31 in D 8 in

1950s Industrial Atomic Age Scissor Multidirectional Wall Lamp by Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in San Diego, CA

Great and hard-to-find wall mount scissor lamp, circa the 1950s. The shade is in perforated metal with a black patinated finish and the arm is metal with chrome. The arm is collapsab...

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Gerald Thurston “Cricket” Lamp for Lightolier, Circa 1950s

Sold

H 12 in W 9.75 in D 12 in

Gerald Thurston “Cricket” Lamp for Lightolier, Circa 1950s

By Gerald Thurston

Located in San Antonio, TX

Mid-Century Modern "cricket" lamp for Lightolier is multifunctional in that the bakelite shade is adjustable and can be used as a desk/table lamp or hung on a wall as a sconce. This ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconce Sculptural Shape, Gerald Thurston Lightolier

Sold

H 21 in W 24.5 in D 40 in

Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconce Sculptural Shape, Gerald Thurston Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Chula Vista, CA

For your consideration, a mid century Danish modern wall sconce with sculptural shape, Eames Era. Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Rewired, new electrical cord. Tested an...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Walnut

Lightolier Sunburst Flushmount Ceiling or Wall Light

Sold

H 12 in Dm 24 in

Lightolier Sunburst Flushmount Ceiling or Wall Light

By Carl Moser 1, Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in Hanover, MA

From Lightolier's Claremont Collection circa 1953 (see image 20) we present this show stopping domed shaped ceiling fixture with 13 curved brass sputnik arms and cones for candelabra...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Cricket Lamp

Sold

H 13 in W 9.75 in D 12 in

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Cricket Lamp

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in New Windsor, NY

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier "Cricket" lamp. Black bakelite shade on brass frame. Signed on the underside of the shade. Re-wired. The ...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Ceiling Cone Fixtures, Pair

Sold

H 7.75 in Dm 5.25 in

Midcentury Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Ceiling Cone Fixtures, Pair

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in North Miami, FL

Gerald Thurston design for Lightolier. Each anodized aluminium shade cone has its' original concentric ring and glass diffuser, in clean original working condition. One base shows a ...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Cricket Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

Sold

H 12.5 in W 11 in D 12 in

Cricket Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Berlin, DE

Lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier in the 1950s. The shade tilts and the lamps can also be hung on the wall as a sconce. A diffuser keeps the light gentle. White painted...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Olive Green Wall Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

Sold

H 8.5 in W 5 in D 9 in

Olive Green Wall Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A small, wall-mounted lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. The piece has a tulip shade, an oversized on/off switch, and a plate mount in matching red-enameled metal. A br...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Brick Red Wall Sconce by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

Sold

H 8.5 in W 5 in D 9 in

Brick Red Wall Sconce by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier

By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A small, wall-mounted lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. The piece has a tulip shade, an oversized on/off switch, and a plate mount in matching red-enameled metal. A br...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Extendable Arm Wall Lamp

Sold

H 8 in W 5 in D 15 in

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Extendable Arm Wall Lamp

By Gerald Thurston

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Metal extendable arm wall lamp with brass fittings designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Lamp head measures 8.5" by 5.5" and the arm swiv...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gerald Thurston wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Gerald Thurston wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original wall lights and sconces by Gerald Thurston were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wall lights and sconces by Kurt Versen, Peter Hamburger, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. Prices for Gerald Thurston wall lights and sconces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $490 and can go as high as $4,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,250.