Emil Stejnar Sputnik Flush Mount

It’s not often that one résumé can include hermetic magician, astrologer, gold and silversmith and lighting designer. It’s fair to say that Austrian Emil Stejnar may be the only one to claim all of the skills above. 

The clamor for mid-century modern design has been at a fever pitch since, well, pretty much the mid-twentieth century. And while many of the era’s furniture makers have gained recognition over time, many designers remain obscure. Emil Stejnar is one such designer. 

Born in Vienna in 1939, Stejnar trained in goldsmithing and silversmithing and opened a jewelry workshop in Sweden. Eventually, he began to translate his metal skills to light fixtures. 

Vintage Emil Stejnar chandeliers and mirrors are practically jewelry themselves, featuring materials like 24-carat gold-plated brass and Austrian crystals. He had a penchant for symmetrical, rounded forms, often emulating starbursts, snowflakes or floral blossoms in his designs. 

Stejnar found a partner in Austrian manufacturer Rupert Nikoll, which made an extensive amount of the designer’s astonishingly precious pieces. In fact, the biggest claim to glory for the brand, which was established in Vienna in the early 1900s, owes to Stejnar’s work.

While it seems that any lighting fixture having a starburst shape and numerous bulbs on the ends was dubbed “Sputnik” in the Cold War era, one of Rupert Nikoll’s most famous designs is the Sputnik pendant lamp, created in the 1960s by Stejnar.

With several lighted spokes extending out in every direction, forming a shape similar to a dandelion puff, Stejnar's Sputnik pendant lamp earned the nickname “Pusteblume,” or “Dandelion” in English. Many imitators have replicated the Sputnik design, but the originals are highly valued by interior designers and collectors of Space Age design. 

Find vintage Emil Stejnar chandeliers, wall lights, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Antique and vintage flush mount lighting fixtures can help you create inviting, ambient lighting in your space, and who doesn’t want that?

While electric light bulbs were a huge improvement over gas and oil lamps for lighting our homes, we still had much work to do in order to arrive at the broad range of table lamps, pendants, sconces and other fixtures that are available today.

Lighting technology and design improved substantially over time. Engaging engineers, scientists, architects and designers alike, the field of lighting became a major proving ground for state-of-the-art materials like plastics, inventive new mechanisms and emotionally resonant styles that included the ethereal (Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculpture), the whimsical (Gino Sarfatti’s 2109 ceiling light and Sputnik chandelier) and the eclectically postmodern (the Toio floor lamp crafted by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni). Eventually, flush mount light fixtures became a practical option for home lighting.

Flush mount lighting fixtures are among the most convenient ways to light a small room with a low ceiling. These structures sit directly against the ceiling’s surface and cast light downward, illuminating a large area and defining the room. Semi-flush mount lighting fixtures hang several inches from the ceiling. They also produce ambient light but can be a little more decorative and lean toward the style of chandeliers.

Flush mount lighting is versatile. Larger fixtures distribute more ambient light across the center of the room, while smaller flush mount fixtures are best for accent or task lighting. The main drawback of flush mount fixtures is that they don’t make a strong statement. You can remedy this by strategically arranging decorative accents that flourish in soft lighting.

Lighting is an essential part of any interior design project. Often, having the right light fixture is key to creating an attractive, radiant room. Ample lighting paired with enticing design creates an elevated, inviting atmosphere, helping to set the desired mood. Selecting the right lighting for your home, however, isn’t merely about creating an especially bright bedroom or a moody dining room. There are many different kinds of fixtures and illumination to consider, with flush mount lighting fixtures among them.

Make a statement with a<a href=/furniture/lighting/flush-mount-ceiling-lights/material/metal/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> metal flush mount lighting fixture — a copper or chrome fixture can prove dazzling in your living room. Art Deco flush mount lighting fixtures, with their geometrical shapes and unique detailing in crystal, glass and brass, will go toward creating a cohesive look amid your collection of authentic Art Deco era posters and other wall decor.

Hollywood Regency fixtures — defined by a flamboyant design style for which we credit decorator Dorothy Draper — can introduce glamour and glitz to your living room with their mirrored finishes and complex floral motifs.

Explore a collection of antique and vintage flush mount lighting fixtures on 1stDibs to see what style best suits your space.