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Lightolier Decorative Objects

Founded in 1904 in New York and family-operated through most of its history, Lightolier was one of the pioneering American electric lighting companies, best known for its embrace of stylistic and technical innovations.

Collectors focus on vintage Lightolier lighting fixtures produced from the 1950s and into the 1970s, when an in-house design team led by Gerald Thurston — and a stellar cast of international design contributors — created an array of practical yet aesthetically lively table lamps, floor lamps, sconces and chandeliers.

Amidst the post-World War II building boom, Lightolier — the name combines “light” and “chandelier” — aggressively boosted its residential lighting division. Thurston, who was strongly influenced by the sleek designs of Gino Sarfatti and his Italian lighting firm Arteluce, towards simpler lamp designs that offered flexibility of function. His best-known designs include the Cricket task light — a lamp with an adjustable enameled metal hood that toggles on a slender bent-metal base — and the three-legged Tripod floor lamp. At the same time, Thurston had a wonderful eye for talent and sought work from some of the lesser-known greats of the era, such as Paavo Tynell, the Finnish lighting designer, who designed several brass chandeliers for Lightolier with his trademark elegant flamboyance.

And more, Thurston recognized abilities in designers not known for their work in lighting.

Edward Wormley, head of furniture design for Dunbar, produced several noteworthy chandeliers employing canisters and reflective hoods. Alvin Lustig was famed as a graphic designer. His ca. 1953 Ring ceiling fixture for Lightolier had a minimalist techno look some 30 years ahead of its time. But this was par. Designed by Michael Lax in 1964, the Lytegem high-intensity lamp — included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art — features a ball-shaped shade attached with a chromed armature to a cubic base, a form that would be widely copied in the following decade. Chandeliers designed in the early 1970s by Gaetano Sciolari, with details such as acrylic diffusers and vertical, two-bulb arms, would define the look of lighting in their day.

A look through these pages reveals just how astonishingly wide a range of lighting pieces Lightolier produced. The company never flicked off its stylistic switch.

Find a collection of vintage Lightolier lamps and other lighting fixtures on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Lightolier
1970s Lightolier Brass Waterfall Cage Lamp with New White Glass Diffusers
By Tommi Parzinger, Lightolier
Located in Chattanooga, TN
ALL OF THESE GLASS SHADES ARE NEW! FMV collaborated with a phenomenal glass fabrication studio to reproduce from a mold, cast from an original shade. The final product looks exactly like the original, except the glass on ours is a bit thicker (and stronger). Ethereal, majestic, brass waterfall floor lamp...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Related Items
Brass and Glass Rod Floor Lamp, Gaetano Sciolari Lightolier Attributed
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Miami, FL
Brass and Glass Rod Floor Lamp, Gaetano Sciolari Lightolier Attributed Offered for sale is a brass and glass rod floor lamp attributed to Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier. This won...
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Late 20th Century American Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

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Brass

1970s Lightolier floor lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Montréal, QC
Lightolier floor lamp, 1970s. Enameled composite metal head, chromed steel stem, enameled steel foot. 40 to 60 watt E-26 Edison medium base incandescent bulb or higher if LED/CFL. ...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

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1970s Lightolier floor lamp
1970s Lightolier floor lamp
H 48 in W 4 in D 8 in
1970s Vintage Chrome "Eyeball" Shade Floor Lamp with 3 Shades
By Lightolier, Robert Sonneman, Koch & Lowy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1970s Vintage chrome floor lamp with three pivoting "eyeball" globe shades. Vintage steel and chrome floor lamp featuring three adjustable chrome globe lights, individual chrome perforated shades, chrome stem on round chrome base, with three way switch. Directional lighting. A vintage floor lamp, in chrome with three globe-form lights, each light is hinged and pivots for a full range of motion. Takes standard base light bulbs. Each shade can tilt, pivot and swivel 360 degrees. Good Vintage Condition with original wiring with age appropriate wear; some scratches and spotting to chrome. Aside from a tiny scratch or two here and there the lamp is in amazing condition, it has far less wear than what you would expect for a 50 year old lamp. In vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. circa 1960s-1970s. A vintage Mid-Century Modern chrome eyeball floor lamp in the style of Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs or Koch & Lowy, Florence Casey...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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, Off-White enameled dif...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

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Brass, Metal

Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier Brass and Glass Rods Floor Lamp
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Hanover, MA
Dazzling floor lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier in brass with multiple glass rods. Illumination comes both from a single socket above for standard size Edison screw cap bu...
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1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Italian Murano Glass and Brass Floor Lamp, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Tall floor lamp with gorgeous round shiny Murano glass sphere in amber dark yellow color with dark brown stripe design. The glass is mounted on a tall brass base with dark typical brass patina and many vintage spots...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

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Brass

1970s Stiffel 4-Light Torchiere Brass Floor Lamp with Milk Glass Shade
By Stiffel
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1970s Stiffel Torchiere brass floor lamp with milk glass shade. Features 3 peripheral lights and Center light. Great quality. Measures 10" in diame...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Brass Waterfall 3 Light Eyeball Floor Lamp Attr
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Madison, WI
Incredible Postmodern statement piece, handsome floor lamp in brass attributed to Robert Sonneman. Each light comes on with a separate click-- you can have one, two or three lights ...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Brass Floor Lamp Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very good looking mid-century floor lamp made by Lightolier USA. It features a tapering brass column over a black enamel base, the original molded cellulose shade with removable pe...
Category

1950s Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Steel

Gerald Thurston Lightolier Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mid Century floor lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston , manufactured by Lightolier, circa 1950/1960's. This example features a sculpted tri pod base of solid brass, solid walnu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

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 Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Lightolier, Floor Lamp
Lightolier, Floor Lamp
H 64.5 in Dm 17 in
Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp in the style of Paul McCobb
By Lightolier, Paul McCobb
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp. 3 way switch turns 1, 2, or all 3 bulbs on. Still retains its plastic diffusor. Looks very much like some of the McCobb designs that were produ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Vintage 1970s Lightolier Brass Waterfall Cage Lamp with White Glass Diffusers
By Tommi Parzinger, Lightolier
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Ethereal, majestic, brass waterfall floor lamp circa 1970s. Where does one begin when it comes to describing this lamp? It is absolutely stu...
Category

Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Rare Pair of Gerald Thurston, Lightolier Table Lamps, Painted Wood Shapes
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning, pair of multicolored table lamps, made of stacked painted wood shapes with its original finish and patina, by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, late 1950s, original condition...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Pair of White Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Table Lamps
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston table lamps for Lightolier Brass ball and sculptural ribbed white ceramic on brass bases. Original brass finials. 3 sockets per lamp wit...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Oversized David Cressey Ceramic Vase Table Lamp for Lightolier
By David Cressey, Lightolier
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a vintage oversized ceramic vase and or table lamp by David Cressey for Lightolier. Fabulous flame glaze pottery. Dimens...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

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Ceramic, Pottery

20th Century White Globe Glass Lightolier Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Valladolid, ES
Lightolier that comes form Lighting Manufactures founded in 1904 Massachusetts, United States of America. A division of Royal Philips Electronics, it was founded in 1904 under the n...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

20th Century White Globe Glass Lightolier Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Valladolid, ES
Lightolier that comes from Lighting Manufactures founded in 1904 Massachusettes, United States of America. A division of Royal Philips Electronics, it was founded in 1904 under the ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Lumia Light Lamp Box by Earl Reiback for Lightolier Lamp
By Earl Reiback, Lightolier
Located in South Charleston, WV
3 available, price is for 1. Lumia light art was discovered in the early 20th century with several designers who embraced the subject and captured it well. The mid century modern movement only produced a few designers who understood the subject well enough to produce a 3 dimensional form capturing the subject. In the late 50s and early 60s after seeing the films by Jim Davis (James Edward Davis...
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Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Decorative Objects

Lightolier Brass Sputnik Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A newly polished Sputnik chandelier by Lightolier. 20 arms.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Lightolier Brass Sputnik Chandelier
Lightolier Brass Sputnik Chandelier
H 24 in Dm 30 in L 24 in
Maurizio Tempestini Abstract Iron Lamp for Lightolier
By Maurizio Tempestini, Lightolier
Located in Rochester, NY
A hard to find table lamp designed by Maurizio Tempestini for Lightolier by Salterini having an abstract sculptural form of black enameled steel and mounted into a shaped travertine ...
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1950s Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Adjustable Black Task Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Adjustable task lamp by Lightolier. USA, circa 1960. Adjustable up and down arm movement. Black resin shade and base with white difffuser and chrome stem. Signed on base.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Decorative Objects

Lightolier decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Lightolier decorative objects 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 Lightolier decorative objects, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by Lightolier 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 decorative objects by Van Teal, Chapman Manufacturing Company, and Frederick Cooper. Prices for Lightolier decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,380 and can go as high as $7,795, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,200.
Questions About Lightolier Decorative Objects
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Lightolier was founded in 1904 by Bernhard Blitzer and the name is a combination of the words “light” and “chandelier.” Lightolier specializes in elaborate and decorative chandeliers, but they also produce a style of lamps that combine functionality with a lively aesthetic. Browse a collection of Lightolier lamps on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Lightolier is still in business. Founded in 1904 and made popular by its electric lighting designs, Lightolier, a contraction of the words light and chandelier, can still be found in stores today. You can also shop Lightolier goods from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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