Mid Century Modern Lightolier Brass and Wood Pulley Light, Circa 1950
View Similar Items
Mid Century Modern Lightolier Brass and Wood Pulley Light, Circa 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Lightolier (Maker)
- Attributed to:Edward Wormley (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Diameter: 24.75 in (62.87 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Minor losses.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: AHL39661stDibs: LU82884539983
Lightolier
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 Modern End-Of-Day Art Glass and Nickel Pendant Light, Circa 1950sLocated in New York, NYAHL3803 A vintage end-of-day glass chandelier with a step profile and a satin surface on the lens. Suspended with nickel metalwork custom made in the Remains Lighting workshop. Due t...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass, Nickel
- Mid-Century Modern Blown Glass and Blackened Steel Star Chandelier, circa 1950sLocated in New York, NYAHL4139 A six light vintage chandelier with clear glass shades arrayed at the points of a blackened metal star body. Suspended from polished nickel fittings. Circa 1950s. Due to the...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsSteel, Nickel
- Solid Brass Eight Arm Dutch Colonial Style Chandelier, Circa 1950sLocated in New York, NYAHL3535 A vintage 1950s Dutch Colonial style eight arm solid cast brass chandelier in its original worn polished finish. From the Sagamore Hotel ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Dutch Colonial Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Wrought Iron Pendant Lantern with Pierced Brass Cylinder Shade, Circa 1950sLocated in New York, NYAHL4163 A round vintage pendant lantern with a blackened wrought iron frame holding a brass cylinder pierced overall with small pinpoint holes...Category
Vintage 1950s Arts and Crafts Lanterns
MaterialsBrass, Steel, Wrought Iron
- A Vintage Pyramidal Holophane Glass Pendant with Square Diffuser, Circa 1950sLocated in New York, NYAHL3611 A rounded, semi-pyramidal holophane glass pendant with square diffuser on polished nickel fittings made in the Remains Lighting Co. workshop. Due to the antique nature of th...Category
Vintage 1950s American Industrial Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsNickel, Brass
- Three Arm Italian Brass & Nickel Chandelier with Smoke Glass Shades, Circa 1960sLocated in New York, NYAHL4048 A three light Italian smoked glass chandelier in its original polished brass and nickel finish. Due to the antique nature of t...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass, Nickel
- Mid-Century Modern Sixteen-Light Spiral Chandelier by LightolierBy LightolierLocated in Port Jervis, NYFabulous black iron 16-light chandelier in a spiral form. Chandelier currently has incorrect shaped bulbs. Should have modern styled round bulbs will soon. Height of the chandelier i...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsIron
- Mid-Century Brass Lightolier ChandelierBy LightolierLocated in New York, NYA stunning Mid-Century Modern eight-arm chandelier, made in Germany. Featuring eight arms with conical shades, emanating from a disk, Circa 1960.Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Lightolier Chic Pendant Light in Brass, 1950sBy LightolierLocated in New York, NY1 pendant light in brass with pin holes at bottom by Lightolier, American, 1950s. The brass has been lacquered so it will not tarnish.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Marvelous Lightolier 10 Cylinder Light Chandelier Flush Light Mid-Century ModernBy LightolierLocated in Pemberton, NJMarvelous 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
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Mid-Century Pendant Light by LightolierBy LightolierLocated in San Antonio, TXBeautiful pendant light by Lightolier made of brass and features a thick lens diffuser. This mid-century pendant light is in great over...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century Brass Chandelier by LightolierBy LightolierLocated in Cincinnati, OHA midcentury chandelier with six white globes sitting on wave like sinusoid- sphere brass metalwork with radiating hanging rods fusing at the top into a shaft of bronze. Retains the ...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal, Brass, Bronze
