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.
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...
Metal
$1,500 / set
Lightolier Dome Pendants.
By Lightolier
Located in Denton, TX
Nice Plastic dome pendant with nickel plated cap and glass globe.
Nickel
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...
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Slender Black Table Lamp with Brass details
By Lightolier, Tommi Parzinger, Gerald Thurston
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...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Pair Gerald Thurston Lightolier Black 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...
Steel
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...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
$1,800Sale Price|28% Off
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...
Brass, Metal
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...
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...
Brass
$1,800 / set
Pair of MidCentury desk lamps
By Lightolier
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1940, We offer this pair of MidCentury lamps. made in iron, brass details. Working.
Brass, Steel
Paavo Tynel Pendant Lamp by Lightolier
By Paavo Tynell, Lightolier
Located in Highland, IN
A sublime design by Tynel, this pendant lamp in brass has a beautiful shade with subtle perforated pattern, a glass diffuser, and a fineal/ handle that allows its height to be adjus...
Brass
Max Sauze Brass Ribbon Mid Century Modern Light Fixture Chandelier Pendant
By Lightolier, Max Sauze
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Max Sauze Brass Ribbon Mid Century Modern Light Fixture Chandelier Pendant.
Brass
Pair of Pristine Vintage Lumilon Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of pristine vintage Lumilon table lamps by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Original one-piece shade-diffusers. UL listed.
Metal
Rare Six-Arm Floor Lamp by Tommi Parzinger, USA, 1960s
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...
Steel
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.
Brass
Amazing Pair Of 1950's Lightolier Murano And Brass Sconces Mid-century
By Lightolier
Located in Pemberton, NJ
LOVELY PAIR OF 1950'S LIGHTOLIER MURANO AND BRASS SCONCES. THE REMOVABLE MURANO GLASS HAS A VERY TEXTURED INTERIOR SURFACE WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE...
Brass
$1,932Sale Price|40% Off
Rare 1960's Gaetano Sciolari Chrome and Beaded Crystal Chandelier
By Lightolier, Gaetano Sciolari
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...
Crystal, Steel, Chrome
air Vintage Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass & Lucite Lamps, Circa 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Camden, ME
This exceptional matched pair of mid-century modern table lamps perfectly exemplifies the uncompromising structural minimalism and innovative material blending that defined post-war ...
Brass
Black & Brass Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Black & Gold Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Excellent vintage condition with age appropriate wear. Minor tarnishing to brass and minor wear to saucer top. Measures ap...
Brass, Steel
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Lightolier Spun Aluminum Eight-Light Modernist Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Modernist chandelier in spun aluminum and steel with eight arms and glass globes. Vented bobeches hold the glass globes in place over spun aluminum tube socket covers. Possibly an ea...
Steel
$2,200Sale Price|20% Off
Lightolier Cut-Crystal Five-Arm Chandelier, circa 1940s
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early example of the craftsmanship of the American lighting pioneer, Lightolier. Five glass arms meet at the bottom the tri-tiered cut-glass centre column. Brass cups und...
Crystal, Brass
$2,000Sale Price|20% 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...
Brass, Metal
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...
Brass, Iron
Torchere Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston / Carl Moser for Lightolier, 1953
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Atomic Chrome and Glass Sputnik Style Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage sixteen light chrome and white glass shade chandelier by Lightolier. Fixture features a chrome frame with trumpet form arms, round glass shades and great Sputnik form. Chande...
Chrome
Lightolier Pair of Porcelain and Brass Table lLamps 1940s
By Lightolier
Located in Miami, FL
Large pair of lamps. Brass and ceramic
Brass
Vintage table lamp by Angelo Lelli for Lightolier, 1970s
By Angelo Lelii, Lightolier
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Space age table lamp designed by Angelo Lelli for Lightolier feautiring a white metal tube and a fine chromed base. The lamp can be adjusted in many ways. tested and ready for use ...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Lightolier Chrome Tube Sconces, 1970s Space Age, Atomic
By Lightolier
Located in Buffalo, NY
Great pair of chromed tube sconces, Swiss made for Lightolier. Rare eight-bulb configuration, very atomic, Space Age design.
Chrome
$6,157Sale Price|24% Off
1970s Lightolier Brass Waterfall Cage Lamp with New White Glass Diffusers
By Tommi Parzinger, Lightolier
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This ethereal floor lamp, attributed to Lightolier and rooted in the extravagant design ethos of the 1970s, stands as a mesmerizing blend of sculptural art and functional lighting. I...
Brass, Chrome
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari / Arredoluce
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari Manner of Arredoluce
Brass
$1,440Sale Price / set|28% 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...
Chrome
Vintage Pull Lamp by Lightolier
By Edward Wormley, Lightolier, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Pull Lamp most likely by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Possibly a design by Gino Sarfatti or Edward Wormley for Lightolier. Unmarked. ple...
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.
Glass
Vintage 1960s Lightolier Eight-Arm Chandelier in Chrome and Glass
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.
Chrome
Large Vintage Gaetano Sciolari / Lightolier 13 Ice Cube Chandelier Pendant Lamp
By Lightolier, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Chicago, IL
Large Vintage Gaetano Sciolari / Lightolier 13 Ice Cube Chandelier Pendant Lamp
Brass
1950s Mid Century Honeycomb Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Designed by the renowned Gerald Thurston and manufactured by Lightolier in the 1950s, this exquisite mid-century table lamp is a bold fusion of sculptural form and functional design....
Brass
Gerald Thurston Scissor Task Lamp Wall Sconce
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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...
Metal, Brass
Elusive Lightolier Ceramic and Brass Table Lamp, Italian Pottery
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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.
Brass
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Metal
'Vintage Desk Lamp by Lightolier, White Metal Shade & Brass Arm, 1970s"
By Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Adjustable white metal shade and white metal base with brass arm, HI-LO dimmer switch on top of the shade, medium base socket.
Brass, Metal, Wire
$3,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
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...
Brass, Metal
Chandelier for Lightolier, 1969
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A matte black metal ceiling fixture having straight slender arms extending outwardly from its vertical post in a spiral effect inspired by Poul Kjaerholm, circa 1960.
Metal
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...
Chrome
Adjustable Brass Pendant for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A fine brass adjustable ceiling fixture having a perforated dome shade and ring handle.
Brass
The Squirrel Cage Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A nice chromed cage lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier. Four clear bulbs within the thick squared wire exterior.
Metal