"If you can't convince them, confuse them". The lighting design work of Gerald Thurston for the Lightolier Corporation. 1950's and 1960's.

We have a Gerald Thurston designed lamp in stock and I had to measure it for a customer today. He was the lead designer for a company called Lightolier in the 50's and 60's. I didn't know much about him so I thought I would share what I found with you. Unfortunately there is not much biographical information out there but his design work for Lightolier is timeless and rare pieces are skyrocketing in price. Here is the one we have and it is in near mint condition. It is available for purchase here 

Beware I think they are making cheap reproductions of this lamp. They must be well made and have a solid, heavy feeling to them.

  Designer Gerald Thurston and his Million-Dollar Hand

Courtesy Global Lighting July 2013

A 1960 Gerald Thurston design, the Lightolier Lamp is crafted of enameled steel and plastic and measures 14×22 inches.

In 1981, I began my career in the lighting industry as an industrial designer for Lightolier. I was hired by the well-known lighting industry pioneer William F. “Bill” Blitzer (read more about him in this blog post I wrote for the Global Lighting blog in 2012). While Blitzer was an amazing mentor in the business aspect of the industry, I was fortunate enough to share an office at Lightolier with designer Gerald “Jerry” Thurston. Known for his 1950s and 60s postwar contemporary lighting designs—Thurston had a tremendous influence on me. He was extremely proud of his work and a playful man. Case in point is one of my favorite sayings I would hear him say: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them!”

Thurston’s brass-and-teak tripod design was a popular format and has many variations. These table lamps measure 17×24.

During the postwar construction boom and rise in mid-Century modern design, the in-house product design team at Lightolier, including Thurston, was of critical importance. Thurston’s right hand was insured for a million dollars because at the height of his career the design process consisted of drawing illustrations on craft paper—a far cry from our computer-generated graphics of today. Think about it: he was creating products at the same time Andy Warhol was making art.  I know first-hand he felt as passionate about his work as any artist ever has, even the great pop-artists like Warhol.

This table lamp with multi-colored, painted-steel shades and a brass base measures 17×17.

Today the sleek, minimalistic, and directional-light iconic lamps of designer Gerald Thurston are highly collectible and sought-after. Check out the offerings on 1stdibs.com. Gerald Thurston is a million-dollar man, indeed!

Designed in the early 1950s, the Triennale Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston features three perforated shades in red, white and black

 These are $5000 lamps when found in mint condition.