Lightolier Lighting
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
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Tall Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Radiating Brass & Walnut Table Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier 3' H flared and incised brass and walnut table lamp, circa 1960. Featuring a radiating vertically lined antique bronzed finish top and partial stem wit...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair of Minimalist 3 Tiered Brass Plated Sconces by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of minimalist 3 tiered brass plated sconces by Lightolier.
Category
20th Century American Art Deco Lightolier Lighting
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Sixteen Arm Chandelier by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Elegant black lacquer sixteen-light chandelier by Lightolier. The chandelier is comprised of eight spokes radiating out from the centre disc, with each bar holding two lights on a cu...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
MCM to Modern Aluminum Dome Pendant Hanging Light Fixture Selling Separately
By Lightolier
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern to Modern aluminum dome pendant hanging light fixtures 4 available, selling separately & priced per hanging light fixture. Beautiful condition, ke...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal, Wire
Graduated Pastel Cone Cluster Pendants by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern pendant lights featuring a graduated cluster of three pastel pink, blue and white, perforated cones on brass poles mounted on circular plates. Four clusters are av...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
$1,400 / item
Pair of Pristine Vintage Lumilon Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Slender Black Table Lamp with Brass details
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tall Gerald Thurston attributed Lightolier black enameled table lamp Featuring a slender all black enameled elongated metal hourglass stem, elevated above a round 7.5D Black enameled balanced base supported by a weighted Cast Iron underside. With lacquered Brass accents throughout. Original triple Ceramic sockets and finial. 23H to top of socket. Black Mesh Lamp...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass, Iron
Lightolier Gooseneck Desk Reading Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Adjustable desk, reading lamp. Classic Post Modern design in the Italian School.
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Torchere Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston / Carl Moser for Lightolier, 1953
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Classic uplight torchère floor lamp with three vertical brass rods supporting a shallow brass bowl and wider glass shade. The base designed by Gerald Thurston with a textured, fire a...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Minimalist 3 tiered Brass Plated Sconces by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of minimalist 3 tiered brass plated sconces by Lightolier.
Category
20th Century American Art Deco Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Faceted Chrome Lightolier Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Modernist chrome hanging fixture by Lightolier (marked). This chandelier has eight triangular panels each 8" W at base. The fixture shows some cosmetic wear to the finish, specifical...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Pair Gerald Thurston Lightolier Iron Tripod Table Lamps with Glass Shades
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
1970s Sciolari Flush Ceiling Lamp Stainless & Brass Italy
By Lightolier, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents
1970s Lightolier Geometric Ceiling Lamp Stainless Steel & Brass Italy
Spectacular Flush Mount. Two lamps available, Price per one item.
Maker stamped Lightolier. A...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Gaetano Sciolari "Cage" Pendant Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Highland, IN
A wonderful example of Sciolari's playful experiments in lighting design, the wire cage lamp came in a taller oval form and this round coiled shape that i...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Stainless Steel, Chrome
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier Pendant Lamp Hanging Fixture
By Lightolier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An example of Lightolier combining Italian lighting and design with
American components.
Frosted glass and lacquered metal.
Category
1950s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Brass with Cast Glass Shades Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant brass chandelier with thick and heavy cast glass shades. Six lights provide the illumination. Chandeliers present height is 30 inches but that can be altered by ad...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier Chrome and Glass Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Stamford, CT
Stunning chrome and brushed steel and glass eight-arm chandelier. Each bulb is surrounded by a bubble glass cylindrical shade.
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
$1,520 Sale Price
60% Off
Lightolier Heathered Taupe and Striped Pottery Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Modernist urn form table lamp with a heathered glaze pottery body, footed wood base and brass spacer. Brass stem with a three socket up light mechanism that was a Lightolier hallmark...
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
$2,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Lightolier Atomic Sputnik Ball Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great table lamp with its original globe shades out of a nice Palm Springs Estate. This 1970’s Lightolier fixture still has a few of its labels. I only had one bulb to light it up...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Lightolier Neoclassical Brass and Darkest Green Urn Form Table Lamps
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant pair of neoclassical table lamps from Lightolier with spun brass caps, risers and base. Also, dark green lacquered metal fluted urn body and c...
Category
1950s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
$3,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Vintage Lightolier 5-Light Perforated Brass Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in North Miami, FL
The 5 brass cup style diffusers are perforated with stars design. This is a flush mount light fixture with crystal orbs adornments. Made by Lightolier, possibly by Paavo Tynell. T...
Category
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Walnut and Brass Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Countryside, IL
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier mid century walnut and brass floor lamp
This lamp measures: 15 wide x 15 deep x 54.5 inches high
This lamp is in Fair Vintage Condition with some...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier Chic Pendant Light in Brass, 1950s
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
1 pendant light in brass with pin holes at bottom by Lightolier, American, 1950s. The brass has been lacquered so it will not tarnish.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier Mid Century Brass and Travertine Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Countryside, IL
Lightolier Mid Century Brass and Travertine Lamp
This lamp measures: 17 wide x 17 deep x 32 inches high
We take our photos in a controlled lig...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Travertine, Brass
Lightolier Elegant Modern Brass Tripod Base Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Simple and elegant brass tripod based table lamp by Lightolier. White porcelain dual sockets with white metal disc housing. Sold with drum shade...
Category
1950s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Metal
$1,560 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Venetia Table Lamps by Lightolier, Light Blue and White Striped Glass
By Lightolier
Located in Kansas City, MO
Pair of "Venetia" table lamps by Lightolier. Striped with custom shades matching the originals. Glass is mint. The brass bases show signs of light wear with one having a small dent t...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier Nickel Staircase Light Fixture
By Lightolier
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nickel fixture with graduated candle forms each holding a bulb. 5 foot tall from base to the canopy.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
$1,650 Sale Price
34% Off
Lightolier Black Enamel Sixteen-Light Mid-Century Light Fixture
By Lightolier
Located in St. Louis, MO
Black enameled light fixture with sixteen arm light fixture made by Lightolier, original enamel in excellent condition, measures 24" H from bottom...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Rare Floor Lamp by Tommi Parzinger, USA, 1960's
By Lightolier, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Floor Lamp by Tommi Parzinger, USA, 1960's
Rare floor lamp by Tommi Parzinger for Lightolier. Six-arm, nickel-plated steel, trident-style with original shades. 1960s limited pro...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
Rare 1960's Gaetano Sciolari Chrome and Beaded Crystal Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Rare Gaetano Sciolari Chrome and Beaded Crystal Chandelier, featuring a striking tiered design with cascading crystal strands and faceted teardrop prisms. The chrome frame is adorned...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Steel, Chrome
$1,932 Sale Price
31% Off
Ceiling Lamp by Lightolier, 1970
By Lightolier
Located in Belmont, MA
A beautiful mid century pair of ceiling lamps by Lightolier with a polished chrome canopy and 18 transparent glass cylinders. One central light bul...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
$1,440 Sale Price / set
28% Off
Hanging Pendant Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An adjustable patinated brass pendant having as shapely perforated shade and frosted glass diffuser with a brass ring pull. Recoiled cable is concealed in the canopy.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Elusive Lightolier Ceramic and Brass Table Lamp, Italian Pottery
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Buffalo, NY
Elusive Lightolier ceramic and brass table lamp, Italian pottery attributed to Gerald Thurston, stunning modernist decorative Italian pottery vessel atop atomic formed brass base.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Bubble Pendants by Gino Sarfatti and Archimede Seguso for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Archimede Seguso, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Priced individually. Italian modern Bubble Pendant Lamps by Gino Sarfatti in collaboration with artisan Archimede Seguso for Lightolier. These exquisite 1950s glass pendants consist ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Blown Glass
Vintage Lightolier Turned Concave Wood Staff Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier turned concave wood staff floor lamp by Gerald Thurston
Signed on underside.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Wood
Lightolier Chandelier with Eight Arms and 16 Glass Bulbs
By Lightolier
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful two-tier chandelier by Lightolier. Chandelier features 8 arms with 16 glass covered candelabra. Iron frame is black and the glass shades are black tinted glass. The current...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Iron
Lightolier Chandelier Ceiling Fixture Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier fixture with large crystal beads attributed to Gerald Thurston. A quality vintage fixture. Reminiscent of Italian fixtures by Arr...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Marvelous Lightolier 10 Cylinder Light Chandelier Flush Light Mid-Century Modern
By Lightolier
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Marvelous Lightolier 10 cylinder light chandelier with star shaped cut crystal globes. This wonderfully simple light fixture would be perfect for a midcentury inspired tall foyer or stairwell...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
$3,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage White Metal Shade and White Metal Base Desk Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adjustable white metal shade and white metal base with brass arm, hi-lo dimmer switch on top of the shade, medium base socket.
Category
1970s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal, Wire
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 Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Gerald Thurston Porcelain Table Lamps for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Gerald Thurston porcelain table lamps for Lightolier.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Lightolier Articulating Floor Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier articulating floor lamp
Signed on underside
Base is 13" diameter.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Chromed Metal Woven Ribbon Chandelier by Max Sauze for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mid-Century chandelier designed by Max Sauze for Lightolier. Made in USA, c. 1960's. The chandelier features a captivating woven ribbon design crafted from chromed metal. The...
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Modernist Wall Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An unusual and expressive wall lamp having a ribbed milk glass diffuser with thin patinated steel sides suspended from a curved plane of birch.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
Lightolier Ceiling Fixture
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three white globe Lightolier ceiling fixture. Two ceiling fixtures available. Three pairs of matching sconces available.
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
The Squirrel Cage Chandelier
By Lightolier, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A nice chromed cage lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier.
Four clear bulbs within the thick squared wire exterior.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Lightolier lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Lightolier lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Gordon & Jane Martz, Laurel Lamp Company, and Marshall Studios. Prices for Lightolier lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $20,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,000.
Creators Similar to Lightolier
Questions About Lightolier Lighting
- What is a Lightolier lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Lightolier 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.
- Is Lightolier still in business?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 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.