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.
Brass Beaded Crystal Glass Flower Pendant Lantern by Emil Stejnar, Austria 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
One of kind beaded glass flower and lead Crystal gilt brass mounted lantern or pendant by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 1950s. Hexagonal brass structure completely (outsid...
Crystal, Brass
Austrian Beaded Glas Flower Lead Crystal Lantern, Rupert Nikoll, Austria 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
One of kind beaded glass flower and lead Crystal gilt brass mounted lantern or pendant by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 1950s. Hexagonal brass structure completely (outsid...
Crystal, Brass
Emil Stejnar, Large Snowflake Chandeliers, Brass, Glass, Austria, 1965
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Austrian circular chandeliers, brass and glass, 1960s Pair of sputnik style circular chandeliers having glass flowers and faceted beads. Designed and p...
Brass
Starburst Brass Chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Austria, 1960s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Aachen, NRW
Beautiful large starburst brass chandelier with hundreds of crystals designed by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll, manufactured in Austria, circa 196...
Crystal, Brass
Emil Stejnar Twelve Arms Brass and Crystal, 1950s Pendant
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Antwerp, BE
Original early Viennese chandelier by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll from the 1950s. Made of brass, red lacquered metal and hand cut crystals. Excellent condition. It takes twelve sm...
Crystal, Brass, Metal
Large Emil Stejnar Chandelier
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Miami, FL
A rare example of Emil Stejnar Sputnik chandelier 20 lights, 25 watts per light.
Brass
Starburst Brass Chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Austria, 1960s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Aachen, NRW
Beautiful large starburst brass flushmount with hundreds of crystals designed by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll, manufactured in Austria, circa 1960s. Heavy quality and in good condition...
Crystal, Brass
Starburst Brass Chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Austria, 1960s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Aachen, NRW
Beautiful large starburst brass flush mount with hundreds of crystals designed by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll, manufactured in Austria, circa 1960s. Heavy quality and in good conditio...
Crystal, Brass
Large Austrian Brass Chandelier by Rupert Nikoll
By Vereinigte Werkstätten München, J.T. Kalmar, Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in München, DE
Exceptionally beautiful and large chandelier from the 1950s. This large lamp is very rare and impresses with its loving details. A stunning lamp and a true asset to any home. Manufa...
Metal
$2,284
H 24.02 in Dm 28.35 in
Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll Brass & Crystal Chandelier, Light, 1960s, Austria
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar, Paavo Tynell
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern ceiling light, manufactured by Rupert Nikoll in 1960's, Austria, Vienna. This chandelier is a striking appearance in every room. Elegant shape and high q...
Crystal, Metal, Brass
$1,726Sale Price|24% Off
H 16.54 in Dm 29.14 in
Emil Stejnar handelier for Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
A striking gilded chandelier with Stejnar’s signature “snowflake” design, featuring multiple curved brass arms radiating outward, each ending in a cluster of delicate white enameled ...
Steel
$2,800
H 24 in Dm 20 in
Emil Stejnar Midcentury Brass Chandelier, Rupert Nikoll Vienna, Austria, 1950s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Vienna, AT
A wonderful Austrian brass chandelier with 6 arms, designed by Emil Stejnar, executed by Rupert Nikoll in the 1950s. In very good condition. Measurements: diameter 20 in, total hei...
Brass
Attributed Emil Stejnar Chandelier Rupert Nikoll, Brass Crystal Glass 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful and rare Mid-Century Modern chandelier attributed to the celebrated Austrian designer Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Vienna, dating to around 1950. This iconic fixture p...
Crystal, Metal, Brass
1 of 3 Starburst Brass Chandelier by Emil Stejnar, Austria, 1960s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Aachen, NRW
Beautiful large starburst brass flush-mount light with hundreds of crystals designed by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll, manufactured in Austria, circa 1960s. Heavy quality and in good co...
Crystal, Brass
Austrian Brass Chandelier by Rupert Nikoll
By Rupert Nikoll, Wiener Werkstätte, Emil Stejnar, Uno & Östen Kristiansson, J.T. Kalmar
Located in München, DE
Exceptionally beautiful chandelier from the 1950s. This lamp is very rare and impresses with its loving details. A stunning lamp and a true asset to any home. Manufacturer: Rupert N...
Metal
Sold
H 23.63 in Dm 13.39 in
Fabulous Emil Stejnar Snowball Orbit Sputnik Chandelier Vintage Austria Rubert N
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Antwerp, BE
Sputnik thirteen-light brass fixture with copious amounts of Austrian crystals by Emil Stejnar for Nikoll. Cosmological. This glamorous delicate brass ‘Snowball’ Sputnik chandelier i...
Brass