Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
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
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Marble, Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Taupe Cap, Restored
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Restored Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Taupe Cap.
This is not just a beautiful design but also an iconic item, making appearance in the original Blade Runner.
It is seating on sideboard beside Deckard’s sofa in his ‘conapt’.
Original socket was not functioning and was replaced with a new one, together with new modern wiring. The knob is original and Lightolier logo is clearly visible.
Brass was polished and took a light coat of specialty lacquer. Metal base, sanded down, rust removed and refinished in matching color acrylic lacquer.
Taupe on this model usually has flaking finish and needs sanding and re-coating. Color-matched acrylic was used.
Diffuser has some heat damage which for Taupe lamp...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1955 Gerald Thurston Midcentury Tripod Table Lamp Pair for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1955 Gerald Thurston Midcentury Tripod Table Lamp Pair for Lightolier
Space Age Atomic Midcentury Modern
Unmarked
26.5 h x 23.25 Tripod base 12 diameter
Preowned original vintage con...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Iron
G. Thurston Porcelain Three-Tiered Table Lamp, Lightolier, 1950s, USA
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Huge in size and presence but elegant and refined with its prime quality dark brown porcelain bowl, brass hardware and accent.
Measure 41 inches high to finial tips.
Three regular ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Porcelain Hourglass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
1950s American Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Metal
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Pair Gerald Thurston Lightolier Iron Tripod Table Lamps with Glass Shades
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Metal
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Porcelain
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Porcelain
Gerald Thurston table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.
Gerald Thurston table lamps 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 table lamps, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original table lamps by Gerald Thurston were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider table lamps by Lightolier, Frederick Cooper, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. Prices for Gerald Thurston table lamps 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.