Lightolier Lighting
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.
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Creator: Lightolier
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Etched Glass and Brass Sconces
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of brass double hurricane sconces by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. Each solid brass sconce has a double hurricane shade, with the inner ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Lightolier Sixteen-Arm, Black Lacquer Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant black lacquer sixteen-light chandelier by Lightolier. The design is often attributed to Tommi Parzinger. The chandelier is comprised of eight spokes radiating out from the ce...
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
$2,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Brass with Cast Glass Shades Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant brass chandelier with thick and heavy cast glass shades. Six lights provide the illumination. Chandeliers present height is 30 inches but that can be altered by ad...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,756 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid Century Waterfall Lamp Sciolari
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful unique mid century lamp attributed to Gaetano Sciolari. Brass tone metal caps hold cylinder ribbed rods done in a clear lucite/acrylic. Three tiers of hanging hooks from wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier White Wall Sconce
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Large white wall sconce by Lightolier. Signed,
USA, circa 1950.
Newly rewired and refinished in white satin powdercoat.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
$840 Sale Price
70% Off
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.
Category
20th Century American Art Deco Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Black Iron Chandelier by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous black iron sculptural chandelier by Lightolier. Total current hgt./length is about 48 with existing chain links. This can be shortened to about 28 with canopy and 1 link. Pl...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Iron
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
Rare Floor Lamp by Tommi Parzinger, USA, 1960
s
By Tommi Parzinger, Lightolier
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
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...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
$3,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Lightolier Chrome and Glass Chandelier
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.
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
$1,520 Sale Price
60% Off
Pair of Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass and Metal Table Lamps
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of tables lamps designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier composed of oversized, fully-adjustable, black-metal shades and corresponding round bases with brass stems (ca. 1950s,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Lightolier Atomic Sputnik Ball Table Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great table lamp with its original globe shades out of a nice Palm Springs Estate. This 1970’s Lightolier fixture still has a few of its labels. I only had one bulb to light it up...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
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.
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Steel
$1,017 Sale Price
45% Off
Lightolier Chandelier
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
16-light chandelier by Lightolier.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel
$3,696
Walnut and Chrome Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Denton, TX
Walnut and chrome table lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Porcelain Hourglass Table Lamps by Gerald Thurston, 1950s
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning pair of vintage table lamps that exude sophistication and style - a true collector's item for those who appreciate mid-century modern design. These lamps were designed by th...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Porcelain Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Westport, CT
Speckled porcelain and brass table lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightiolier, circa 1950-1959. Completely rewired, newly white linen shade included.
Other designers of the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Ferndale, MI
Space age lamp made in Japan for Lightolier. Weighted steel base supports chrome shaft holding adjustable plastic shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Steel, Chrome
$350
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...
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
$2,000 Sale Price
20% 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...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Steel, Chrome
$1,771 Sale Price
36% Off
Mid Century Modern Multi-Light Frosted Glass Pendant Chandelier by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage hanging ceiling mount pendant light chandelier circa 1960's labeled Lightolier. This unique fixture features 5 sculptural white frosted...
Category
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
$2,240 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid Century Modern Walnut and Metal Chandelier By Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 18in W: 19 1/2in D: 19 1/2in
This Mid Century Modern three light chandelier is something to be seen! Lightolier produced this walnut and brass chandelier. Lightolier...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
$740 Sale Price
38% Off
Lightolier Chic Pendant Light in Brass, 1950s
By Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
1 pendant light in brass with pin holes at bottom by Lightolier, American, 1950s. The brass has been lacquered so it will not tarnish.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Lightolier Lights With 16 Glass Blocks Each, USA Circa 1975
By Lightolier
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Each light has 16 glass blocks that attach to a polished steel frame. The glass blocks are thick and square with tiny detailed air pockets throughout. In the center of each block is ...
Category
1670s American Mid-Century Modern Antique Lightolier Lighting
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Lightolier Mid Century Glass Pendant Light
By Lightolier
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Lightolier Mid Century Glass Pendant Light
This light measures: 14 wide x 14 deep x 11 inches high
We take our photos in a controlled lighting studio to show as much detail as poss...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
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.
Category
1950s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Glass
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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
$1,440 Sale Price / set
28% Off
Vintage Lightolier Articulating Floor Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier articulating floor lamp
Signed on underside
Base is 13" diameter.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Wood
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.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
$3,600 Sale Price
20% Off
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.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Pull Lamp by Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gino Sarfatti, Edward Wormley
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Vintage Ceramic Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Midcentury vintage ceramic lamp base by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier.
As shown, ceramic base requires specifying hardware and wiring. First photo with black shade is for reference...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Lightolier Vintage Patinated Copper Pendant
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Lightolier Vintage Patinated Copper Pendant light fixture complete with glass lens that sits in center. This is a light weight luminaire made with ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Metal
Vintage White Metal Shade and White Metal Base Desk Lamp by Lightolier
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.
Category
1970s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal, Wire
Lightolier Chandelier Ceiling Fixture Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier fixture with large crystal beads attributed to Gerald Thurston. A quality vintage fixture. Reminiscent of Italian fixtures by Arr...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
1960s American Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Chrome
1950s Mid Century Honeycomb Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in North Hollywood, CA
✨ Mid-Century Honeycomb Table Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier ✨
Designed by the renowned Gerald Thurston and manufactured by Lightolier in the 1950s, this exquisite mid-centu...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Lighting
Materials
Brass
Lightolier lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Lightolier lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Gordon
Jane Martz, Laurel Lamp Company, and Marshall Studios. Prices for Lightolier lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $20,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,000.
Creators Similar to Lightolier
Questions About Lightolier Lighting
- What is a Lightolier lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Lightolier was founded in 1904 by Bernhard Blitzer and the name is a combination of the words “light” and “chandelier.” Lightolier specializes in elaborate and decorative chandeliers, but they also produce a style of lamps that combine functionality with a lively aesthetic. Browse a collection of Lightolier lamps on 1stDibs.
- Is Lightolier still in business?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Lightolier is still in business. Founded in 1904 and made popular by its electric lighting designs, Lightolier, a contraction of the words light and chandelier, can still be found in stores today. You can also shop Lightolier goods from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.