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.
$6,523Sale Price|20% Off
Emil Stejnar Dandelion Floor Lamp, Sputnik Snowball Floor Lamp for Nikoll
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This spectacular Sputnik floor lamp looks like a flowers explosion.It features a multitude of brass rods ending with bulbs or clear crystal flowers. E...
Brass
$1,563Sale Price|35% Off
H 35.04 in Dm 17.72 in
Chandelier Snowball Sputnik by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Vienna, 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Hamburg, DE
This enchanting chandelier was designed by Emil Stejnar in the 1950s for the Viennese lighting manufacturer Rupert Nikoll. Stejnar's ceiling lamps are characterized by star shapes an...
Crystal, Brass
$1,822
H 15.75 in Dm 14.18 in
Rupert Nikoll for Emil Stejnar Snowball Sputnik Chandelier, 1950s Vienna
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Antwerp, BE
Very rare Sputnik chandelier designed by Emil Stejnar, circa 1955 and executed by Rupert Nikoll, Vienna.
Brass
Fabulous Emil Stejnar Snowball Orbit Sputnik Chandelier Vintage Austria 1960s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, sputnik chandelier, glass, crystal, brass, Austria 1960s or older. Large brass 'Snowball' Sputnik chandelier, made in Vienna in the 1960s. Designed by...
Metal
Pendant Lamp by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Ernest Palme, Vereinigte Werkstätten München, Palwa, Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in München, DE
Wonderful pendant lamp from the 1950s. The lamp with the crystal glass flowers has a very luxurious charisma and sparkles particularly beautiful. The design and the materials used cr...
Metal
Flower Sputnik Chandelier by Emile Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Antwerp, BE
1950s Sputnik chandelier by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Vienna, Austria. Made of brass and hand-cut-glass crystals. It has 17 sockets for E14 bulbs ,in original good condition.
Brass
Sputnik Snowball Chandelier by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass construction chromed fitted with E14 sockets. Glass pearls and glass elements, designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll in the 1960s.
Brass, Chrome
$3,900
H 16 in Dm 13 in
Emil Stejnar Nickel-Plated Dandelion Sputnik Blowball Chandelier, Rupert Nikoll
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Mid-Century snowflake blowball sputnik chandelier from the 1950s. Designed by Emil Stejnar, manufactured by Rupert Nikoll Vienna / Austria. Made of nickel-plated brass, ...
Crystal, Brass, Nickel
Large Snowball Pendant by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Snowball Pendant by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll. Designed and manufactured in Austria, circa 1960's. Brass, glass. Rewired for U.S. standards...
Brass
$2,473
H 80 in W 44 in D 44 in
austrian mid century emil stejnar CHANDELIER hanging lamp dandelion sputnik ceil
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Mannheim, DE
Magnificent Austrian mid century chandelier designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Vienna in the mid 1950s. Material brass, white painted metal and glass. A total of 33 arms ext...
Brass
Dandelion Sputnik Chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Austria, 1955
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Uithoorn, NL
'Dandelion' Sputnik chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Vienna, Austria, 1955. Produced by Rupert Nikoll. This chandelier is made of faceted glass in the shapes of snowflakes. The Sputnik-li...
Silver
$2,518
H 42.13 in Dm 13.39 in
Fabulous Emil Stejnar Snowball Orbit Sputnik Chandelier Vintage Austria Rubert N
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Rijssen, NL
Sputnik nine-light brass fixture with copious amounts of Austrian crystals by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll. Cosmological. This glamorous delicate brass ‘Snowball’ Sputnik chandelier is al...
Metal, Brass
$7,794
H 27.56 in Dm 23.63 in
Large 33-Lights Chandelier Dandelion by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll 1950s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Munich, DE
A breath taking light object. Rare, lovely and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern 33-flamed sputnik chandelier 'dandelion'. Designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 195...
Brass
Emil Stejnar High Floor Lamp by Nikkol
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Geneva, CH
Crystal, steel and marble floor lamp by Emil Stejnar by Rupert Nikkol, Austria ca.1965 Few crystal balls missing but very good condition.
Crystal, Marble, Stainless Steel
Emil Stejnar Blowball Sputnik Brass Floor Lamp by Nikoll, Austria
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Vienna, AT
A Stunning Viennese floor lamp. Very exclusive 24-Karat gold-plated model. Designed by Emil Stejnar, executed by the Viennese manufacturer Rupert Nikoll. Beautiful lamp, the lampshad...
Stejnar Snowball Sputnik Floor Lamp
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Geneva, CH
Chrome and steel snowball sputnik floor lamp by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll White marble base, tubular stainless steel stem Probably not origin...
Marble, Stainless Steel