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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Period: 1950s
Creator: Gerald Thurston
Gerald Thurston "Cricket" Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Great modernist design, can sit on table or be hung on the wall as a sconce. Pierced pivoting shade allows for direct or diffused light and brightness control.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Enamel
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Beige "Cricket" Desk Lamp, Circa 1955
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Original Classic Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Beige Cricket Table Lamp, Wall Lamp. Featuring an adjustable perforated dome Bakelite Shade in Coffe...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
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 sid...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Brass and Enameled Table or Desk Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in San Diego, CA
High quality mid-century brass and enameled metal table or desk lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. USA, 1950s.
Fully adjustable articulation. Perforated metal shade.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Gerald Thurston Parabolic Fin Sculptural Ceramic Lamps by Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Pair of "Parabolic Fin" Model Ceramic Lamps, designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, American, circa 1950s. They have been rewired and are ready to use. One lamp has a...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Gerald Thurston 1950s Hourglass Tri-color Ceramic Lamps
By Gerald Thurston
Located in San Francisco, CA
the best of post-war design, each lamp composed of stacked tri-color conical-form glazed elements with brass mounts; Gerald Thurston was one of the most creative American lighting de...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
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
Gerald Thurston For Lightolier "Cricket" Lamp ca' 1950's
By Gerald Thurston
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A nice example of a Gerald Thurston for Lightolier "Cricket"lamp. All original, complete with plastic diffuser, original wiring, original beige paint.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage Enameled Metal and Brass Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Desk Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Riverdale, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Desk Lamp from the 1950s in an Industrial green grey enameled sheet metal. Crescent base and sw...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Adjustable Taupe Desk Lamp, 1950's
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Original condition Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Pivoting Library lamp, 1950's. Featuring an articulating patinated Brass stem, resembling a smooth Bronze appearance, adjustable Tau...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Enamel
1950s Gerald Thurston Tripod Table Lamp Pair Space Age Modern Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Gerald Thurston Tripod Table Lamps for Lightolier
Space Age Atomic Midcentury Modern
Unmarked
26.5 tall x 23.5 diameter
Preowne...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Iron, Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier "Cricket" Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An iconic design by Gerald Thurston for lightolier, the "cricket" lamp has three light brightness settings and is in working order. The ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
1950s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, Lightolier, USA
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Elegant Brass Table Lamp Marble Base 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 Brass Crossed Sword Dual Shade Partners Desk Lamp, 1950's
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier crossed swords desk lamp with brass rimmed Raffia Barrel Shades. Featuring dual arms in Brass, ball sockets, original adjusting dual Brass rimmed inte...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Brass Table Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gerald Thurston brass double shade table lamp for Lightolier, U.S.A. Reminiscent of a bankers counter or desk lamp impressive scale with double l...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Expertly Restored - Gerald Thurston "Fin" Porcelain Table Lamps by Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerald Thurston "Fin" porcelain table lamps by Lightolier.
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Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history ba...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
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
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
Pair Gerald Thurston Black Iron Tripod Table Lamps with Milk 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, white milk glass liner shades atop ro...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Mid Century Modern 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 Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Pair of Gerald Thurston Fin Lamps for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A pair of parabolic fin table lamps by Gerard Thurston. Stoneware body is made up of four fin like shapes that have alternating concave Navy and light turquoise glaze. Porcelain sits...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
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
Pair of Chocolate Honeycomb Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Stunning pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier table lamps, circa 1950. These lamps are all original including original shades.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier "Studio Porcelains" Dark Gray Table Lamp, 1950's
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Substantial Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Charcoal Gray "Studio Porcelains" Pleated Table Lamp. Featuring a large fluted Gun Metal Porcelain body, Brass stem, original White enameled triple sockets on beveled Brass base. Original pleated tapered...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Ceramic and Brass Table Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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
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
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 Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, 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
Substantial Pair of Gerald Thurston "Floriform" Eggshell Ceramic Lamps, 1950's
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Monumental Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Neutral Ceramic Table Lamps. Featuring an abstract hourglass shape, in natural, Cream, S...
Category
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Metal
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
Gerald Thurston Wall Table or Desk Cricket Lamp Midcentury , 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in San Diego, CA
White "Cricket" lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. It can be used on a table, desk or hung on a wall. The shade pivots so light can be directed in various angles. It includes th...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier White "Boomerang" Desk Lamp, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Articulating Boomerang Desk Lamps. Featuring a Teak handle, patinated Brass stem, adjustable and perfor...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
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.