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.
Mid Century Saucer Shade Floor Lamp Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Classic Saucer shade reading, floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston, for Lightolier. The lamp features an adjustable shade which pivots and tilts, and the vertical center pole exte...
Metal
Three Shade Midcentury Modern Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Attractive and space efficient floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston and manufactured by Lightolier. Both names are icons in the field of American midcentury modern lighting design ...
Metal
Mid Century Thurston for Lightolier Torchiere
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic mid century torchiere floor lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston, for Lightolier. This stunning lamp features a black base from...
Brass, Steel
Lightolier Lytespan Tension Pole Lamp! Mid Century Modern 1950s Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Peoria, AZ
LIGHTOLIER MID CENTURY MODERN LYTESPAN 1959 TENSION POLE LAMP! ICONIC 3 GOLD SHADES WITH HANDLES! FITS 8 FT. CEILING This is both an iconic & gorgeous Lightolier atomic...
Metal
$900 / item
Three Tiered Floor Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Three Tiered Floor Lamp by Lightolier. Great vintage conditions and working at 100%.
Steel
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Tripod Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for accurate shipping to your location. Tripod Floor Lamp. Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Wrought Iron
Mid Century Modern Gerald Thurston Torchiere Lamp with Glass Dish Shade
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and a beautiful torchiere floor lamp by Gerald Thuston for Lightolier. Glass dish rests on a brass plate supported by three rods which are conne...
Brass, Steel
Mid Century Lytespan Tension Floor Lamp By Thurston for Lightolier c 1950/1960's
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Iconic and rare Lytespan Mid Century tension pole floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier c. 1950/1960's. The lamp featu...
Aluminum, Brass
Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier Brass and Glass Rods Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gaetano Sciolari
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...
Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Hanover, MA
Mid-1950's three light floor lamp produced by Lightolier and designed by Gerald Thurston. The style of the pierced polished brass tapered bowls appears to have been influenced by the...
Brass, Copper
Midcentury Modern Floor Lamp with Articulating Pivoting Shades by Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Three shade floor lamp with pivoting heads. Classic Lightolier styling in minimal elegant form. Each shade with own switch. It is recommended the buyer rewire the whole lamp, which i...
Metal
Lightolier Carved Wood Faux Bamboo Floor Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Lightolier Carved Wood Bamboo Floor Lamp Original Surface and Shade A beautiful Design
Fruitwood
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Articulated Floor Lamps Mid Century Modern
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Articulated Mid Century Floor Lamps, designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, American, circa 1960s. The floor lamps are fully adjustable, with the central shade adjusting...
Metal, Brass
$2,500
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.
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. ...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Pair Gerald Thurston Black Tripod Floor Lamps with White Shades, 1950's
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Tripod Floor Lamps in Black & White with Off White shades. 1950's. With three balanced and supporte...
Metal
Mid Century Black and Gold Adjustable Floor Lamp by Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mid Century Triennale style floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, circa 1950/1960's. The lamp features three lights, each having a two tier cylindrical shad...
Metal
Adjustable Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic Thurston design Mid Century saucer top reading lamp manufactured by Lightolier. The lamp can be raised to 52 in, or lowered to 42 in H, the disk shade is 12 in. in diameter, ...
Brass, Steel
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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, original Off-White ena...
Brass, Metal
Gerald Thurston Orange Saucer Floor Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Gerald Thurston Orange Saucer Floor Lamp for Lightolier. Overall great vintage condition with age appropriate wear.
Metal, Brass
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Modern White Metal Pole Floor Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Modern White Metal "Bullet" Pole F...
Metal
$900 / item
Three Tiered Floor Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Three Tiered Floor Lamp by Lightolier. Great vintage conditions and working at 100%.
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...
Brass
Mid Century Modern Adjustable Double Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston - Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous adjustable double headed floor lamp from Lightolier by Gerald Thurston c1958. Brass with painted black pole shaft and base. In e...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Mid Century Uplight Torchiere By Gerald Thurston and Carl Moser for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century uplight torchiere floor lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston, with glass by Carl Moser, for Lightolier, circa 1950's. The lamp features a disk form texture and d...
Brass
$1,017Sale Price|45% Off
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...
Brass, Steel
Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamp for Lightolier. Italian inspired. In the manner of Gino Sarfatti for Arredoluce More than likely Jonathan Adler's Maxime Task Floor Lamp was a s...
Brass
1950s Gerald Thurston Triennale Floor Lamp for Lightolier, USA
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in London, GB
Gerald Thurston Triennale floor lamp for Lightolier. Original dusky pink enameled frame and base with brass detailing. In good vintage condition showing expected signs of wear comme...
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...
Brass
Vintage Lightolier Articulating Floor Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier articulating floor lamp Signed on underside Base is 13" diameter.
Wood
Adjustable Swing Arm Saucer Floor Lamp Designed by Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Classic Gerald Thurston design for Lightolier adjustable floor lamp, having a flex arm, saucer shade, and extendable center pole. This example is in very good, clean, original, worki...
Metal
Modernist Triennale Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Buffalo, NY
Beautiful and extremely well made three shade floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Made of brass and black painted metal, each shade retains its original metal swir...
Metal, Brass
$1,928Sale Price|42% Off
White Floor Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Wien, AT
White floor lamp by Lightolier Original condition.
Steel
Gerald Thurston Brass Tri Pod Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century classic streamlined brass tripod floor lamp with linen shade. Some patina to brass, professionally rewired for use in the USA. Lamp uses 3 bulbs. Shade not included. Shad...
Brass
$1,462Sale Price|55% Off
Lightolier Model 8180 Floor Lamp in the Style of Angelo Lelli
By Lightolier
Located in South Charleston, WV
Model 8180, 1972 Lightolier. 10 3/4" x 10 3/4" x 60" tall and featuring 3 chrome globes, this floor lamp is produced in Italy and marked as such. Likely produced at Arredoluce for Li...
Steel, Chrome
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Floor Lamp Walnut and Brass
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Fraser, MI
Lightolier Floor Lamp designed by Gerald Thurston. Brass stem with Walnut center cylinder. Rewired.
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
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Walnut & Bright Tripod Floor Lamp, Circa 1960
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Walnut & Bright Brass Tripod Floor Lamp. Featuring lower sturdy, reflective tripod Brass legs, solid Walnut stem, Lampshade shown for display only and ...
Metal, Brass
1950s Rare Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Reading Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1950s Rare Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Adjustable Reading Floor Lamp 54 h x 14.5 w 21.5 d Preowned original vintage condition Refer to images provided. Shipping ...
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
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Brass and Lucite Rocket Floor Lamp
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century brass and Lucite rocket floor lamp Base is 15 x 15 and the lamp is 51 inches high overall Brass base has some spotting so we are selling t...
Brass
$6,359Sale Price|21% Off
1970s Lightolier Brass Waterfall Cage Lamp with New White Glass Diffusers
By Lightolier, Tommi Parzinger
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
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Walnut and Brass Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Franklin Park, 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...
Brass
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.
Wood
Japanese Style Grid Floor Lamp for Lightolier, 1970's
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Four sided floor lamp evoking a Japanese Shoji screen. The frame of solid walnut set on an ebonized recessed plinth base with the frame having a...
Birch, Walnut