1960s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, USA
View Similar Items
1960s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, USA
About the Item
- Creator:Laurel (Manufacturer),Gerald Thurston (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Diameter: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:St- Leonard, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2198315589512
Gerald Thurston
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.
- 1950s Gerald Thurston Table Lamp, Lightolier, USABy Lightolier, Gerald ThurstonLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecElegant table lamp made of walnut, brass with plastic shade. By Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Marked.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$1,600 Sale Price20% Off - G. Thurston Porcelain Three-Tiered Table Lamp, Lightolier, 1950s, USABy Lightolier, Gerald ThurstonLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecHuge in size and presence but elegant and refined with its prime quality dark brown porcelain bowl, brass hardware and accent. Measure 41 inches high to finial tips. Three regular ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$1,500 Sale Price40% Off - 1950s Laurel Twin Shade Brass Table Lamp , USABy Gerald Thurston, Lightolier, LaurelLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecSensuous shaped table lamp from Laurel Mfg. USA . 1950s Pierced , enameled shade sitting on a tall brass structure . The walnut tip end serve as an On/Off switch Contain 2 E27...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsAluminum, Brass
$1,996 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Counterweight Arched Table Lamp, USABy Stilnovo, Reggiani, LightolierLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecElegant, bold, solid, well-made counterweight table lamp with an arched horizontal stem landing on a half bell shade. The height setting st...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
$1,600 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Huge Raymor Ceramic Table Lamp, USABy RaymorLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecHuge crackled glazed ceramic table lamp in dulled silver, gold and cooper tone . Brass pole sitting on a enameled black wood base. Prime quality material and top notch craftman...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$2,250 Sale Price43% Off - 1950s Gerald Thurston 5 Arm Brass Pendant for Lightolier , USABy Lightolier, Gerald ThurstonLocated in St- Leonard, QuebecRare Gerald Thurston 5 arm pendant for Lightolier . Pierced brass plated shade mounted on an brass structure . Well made with quality component and ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
$3,200 Sale Price20% Off
- Two Gerald Thurston Table Lamps for Lightolier, 1960sBy Gerald Thurston, LightolierLocated in Den Haag, NLTwo beautiful table lamps. Designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier USA, 1960s. Grey ceramic lamp bases with a metallic finish on oak feet. Triple armatures which can be switched on and off individually using the draw cord...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
$1,051 Sale Price / set20% Off - Gerald Thurston Pottery Table LampBy Gerald ThurstonLocated in New York, NY1960s Mid-Century Modern pottery table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston. Shades for photography only.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsPottery
- Gerald Thurston For Lightolier Tripod Lamps, USA, 1950'sBy Gerald ThurstonLocated in Austin, TXGerald Thurston For Lightolier tripod mid century modern table lamps. Original matched pair of brass and walnut lamps retain perforated metal...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Gerald Thurston Porcelain LampsBy Gerald ThurstonLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Classic ivory glazed porcelain lamps with speckled horizontal stripes resting on matte finished bases with an aged brass band. Lamps have been rewired for use in the USA ...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$4,500 / set - Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Style Adjustable Brass Desk Lamp, 1960sBy Gerald Thurston, LightolierLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston for Lightolier style brass desk lamp. Featuring a slender, sturdy Brass plated tubular stem, round balanced, weighted 6D base, turn switch to base, adjusting Black enameled interior Brass shade head (8.25 W x 3W) extending to 10W with Cast Iron handle...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Gerald Thurston Cricket LampBy Lightolier, Gerald ThurstonLocated in Brooklyn, NYOriginal "Cricket" table lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Enameled white shade, articulates from angular brass base. A versatile lamp that may be hung on the wall as...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsSteel