Gerald Thurston for Stiffel "Rocket" Table Lamp
Industrial Modern style steel table lamp
designed by Gerald Thurston for Stiffel Lighting. Double sockets with
pierced metal light defuser. Original shade. Retains Stiffel label.
Excellent original condition with light wear to shade. Measures 19ʺDiameter × 30.75ʺH. Shade only
measures 7.75"H x 19" diameter. Shipping continental US $95.
Gerald Thurston:
Born in
1914, U.S.A., date and place of death are unknown) was one of the most
innovative American lighting designers of the postwar era. He earned
acclaim for his lamps and lighting fixtures, which exemplified the
streamlined forms and sleek materials of the mid 20th century. His
long-term work with lighting company Lightolier over the course of the
1950s and 1960s resulted in some of his most iconic lamps, which are
still coveted by collectors today.
Little is known of Thurston’s
early years; however, it is known that he joined the team of Lightolier
during a pivotal moment in design history: mid-century tastes for simple
yet innovative shapes were beginning to usurp the ornate designs of
earlier generations, which resulted in an overall shift in design
thinking. In fact, Lightolier embarked on a collaboration with the
Italian company Artluce during this period as part of the company’s
embrace of these modernist trends.
It was in this atmosphere that
Thurston’s vision was particularly impactful, as he too embodied the
desire to experiment with new forms and constructions that were minimal
yet functional, industrial yet elegant, and, importantly, never seen
before. Thurston enhanced his designs by incorporating various materials
and textures. He paired bold brass, for instance, with creamy porcelain
or wood grain to create lamps and lighting that served equally as
sculptural installations as they did for illumination.
SOURCE: Casati Gallery
