Gerald Thurston Floor 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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Creator: Gerald Thurston
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, Triennale Floor Lamp. 1960s
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Gerald Thurston Triennale Floor Lamp. This is a well known iconic design.
Lamp, undergone a good deal of cleaning.
Sockets were replaced with premium UL listed units. All lights wo...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
Mid Century Modern Lightolier 3 Shade Tension Pole Lamp Gerald Thurston 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Peoria, AZ
STUNNING & RARE!
1956
MID CENTURY MODERN
LIGHTOLIER
TENSION POLE LAMP!
THREE SHADES
ORANGE WHITE BLACK
GERALD THURSTON DESIGN
FITS 8 FT. CEILING
Mid Century Pole lamps are one...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Tri Shade Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Boston, MA
A three headed adjustable pole floor lamp with a dark green, red and creme metal shade, circa 1960s. Rare color combination. The metal pole is in a satin black with round base. Brass...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Black Gooseneck Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Black powder coated gooseneck floor lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Newly rewired and powder coated black.
It takes two 75w Max Edison light bulbs.
Measurements:
40.75” ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Steel
Pair of Mid Century Modern Wishbone Floor Lamps by Gerald Thurston for Laurel
By Gerald Thurston, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of Wishbone Floor Lamps by Gerald Thurston for the Laurel Lamp Co. C1960. Beautiful pair of floor lamps with original glass shades totally intact. 65.75 height with a 2...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Gooseneck Floor Lamp by Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Mid Century two light gooseneck floor lamp, having flex arms with conical shades, on round plinth base. Designed by Gerald Thurston, for Lightolier, circa 1950's. Often imita...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
Mid Century Lytespan Tension Floor Lamp By Thurston for Lightolier c 1950/1960's
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
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 features two cone shades, and one large up facing ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Mid Century Modern Reading Adjustable Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston C1955
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous fifties adjustable floor lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. White with brass components and in excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. A scrape about halfway up ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Steel, Brass
Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Modern Triennial Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier C1965
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Gerald Thurston design and interpretation of the triennial floor lamp in brown tones with brass accents. Completely maneuverable to accent any lighting position desired. In ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Lightolier Lytespan Tension Pole Lamp! Mid Century Modern 1950s Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Peoria, AZ
MONUMENTAL!
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 at...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Three Shade Midcentury Modern Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Black & White Tripod Floor Lamps, 1950's
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Black and Gold Adjustable Floor Lamp by Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Tripod Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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.
Category
1950s Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Wrought Iron
Adjustable Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
1950s Gerald Thurston Floor Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Esperance, NY
1950s Gerald Thurston floor lamp for Lightolier.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
1960s Stylized Space Age Gerald Thurston Reading Floor Lamps Mid-Century Modern
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Gerald Thurston stylized matching space age reading floor lamps.
These rare Gerald Thurston Space age lamps (2) are in excellent vintage condition.
Gorgeous shades that hover like a space ship.
Great lighting ability for reading. Perfect matching reading lamps for you both.
Excellent vintage condition and consistent with age and use throughout the years.
Color is a light creamy beige with a double gold band on each metal shade.
Dimensions:
45" tall
18" elbow to shade
11 x 4...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Lightolier 3 Shade Pole Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A three headed adjustable Mid Century pole floor lamp with a black, gray and coral plastic shade. The metal pole is in a satin black with round base h...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
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 Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
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 Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston Brass Tri Pod Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Lightolier, Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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 Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Floor Lamp by Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beauty in the rough.
This brass and hard wood floor lamp is in need of a little TLC and then it will shine again!
Brass is in great condition but may want a little polish. Hardwo...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Thomas Moser floor lamp by Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Highland, IN
This great floor lamp is architectural with a restrained playfulness, it employs innovative materials (perforated steel) and reflected light for a nice mix of direct and indirect ill...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid Century 3 Light Floor Lamp by Thurston
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Rare mid century floor lamp having three adjustable cone form shades attached to a spiral twist form vertical post. Each shade will pivot and tilt, to direct the light, each shade me...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, 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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Copper, Brass
Mid Century Thurston for Lightolier Torchiere
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Mid Century Brass and Lucite Rocket Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Countryside, 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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Tulip Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Tulip floor lamp.
Offered is a beautiful Mid-Century Modern vintage floor lamp. The lamp is made of brass. It is in good vintage condition, has ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Torchère Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
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 Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Modern Gerald Thurston Torchiere Lamp with Glass Dish Shade
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp in Brass and Ebonized Walnut by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and sculptural Mid-Century Modern floor lamp was realized by the esteemed designer, Gerald Thurston, in the United States, circa 1950. It features sculptural brass legs...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
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 Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
1950s Black Enameled Steel & Brass Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Black enameled steel floor lamp with three brass arms holding a perforated steel reflector and shade.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
Brushed Aluminum and Walnut Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Sophisticated floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Brushed aluminum and walnut.
Newly rewired.
New oatmeal colored linen shade.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Aluminum
Gerald Thurston, Lightolier Style Walnut, Brass & Glass Side Table Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Gerald Thurston for Lightolier attributed Walnut and Brass Combination Side Table Floor Lamp, 1950s. Small footprint. Featuring a tubular Brass hourglass frame, doweled Walnut centre...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerald Thurston Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Gerald Thurston floor lamps for sale on 1stDibs.
Gerald Thurston floor 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 floor lamps, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original floor 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 floor lamps by George Kovacs, Lightolier, and Karl Springer. Prices for Gerald Thurston floor lamps can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $595 and can go as high as $7,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,895.