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.
Two Mid-Century Modern Round Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Antwerp, BE
Two amazing illuminated round mirrors with background illumination and brass and Lucite flowers by Emil Stejnar. Looking in this mirror will t...
Metal
Vintage Back light Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll 1950s
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 54,5 cm Diameter , 9 cm Height Condition: Good Period: 1970s Material: Metal , glass , plastic Color: Multicolored
Metal
$2,668
H 3.55 in Dm 16.54 in
Mid-Century Modern Round Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria 1960s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Hagenbach, DE
An illuminated wall mirror from the 1960s made in Austria. It was designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll. The mirror has a round design with beautiful orange acrylic flowers. The...
Aluminum
Austrian Mirror with Glass Blossoms by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Palwa, Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Houston, TX
Austrian mirror with glass blossoms by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll. Stunning round Austrian mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, circa 19...
Glass, Mirror
$2,609
H 32.5 in W 25 in D 3.2 in
Rare Midcentury Emil Stejnar Illuminated Floral Oval Shape Mirror, Austria 1950s
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish Mid-Century Modern vanity / make up hallway mirror for wall mounting, 1950s. An exceptional and highly collectible piece by famed Austrian designer Emil Stejnar, this illumi...
Metal
$1,185Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.93 in W 16.93 in D 3.15 in
Illuminated floral mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria 1950s
By Emil Stejnar
Located in ECHT, NL
Back lit wall mirror. Designed by Emil Stejnar and produced by Rupert Nikoll, Austria in the 1950s. The mirror has an edge made from numerous glass flowers that reflect en disperse t...
Metal
$4,030
H 3.55 in Dm 22.84 in
Mid-Century Modern Round Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria 1960s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Hagenbach, DE
An illuminated wall mirror from the 1960s made in Austria. It was designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll. The mirror has a round design with beautiful orange/red acrylic flowers....
Aluminum
$1,185Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 3.94 in
Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, 1950s
By Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century wall mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll. The mirror consists of an illuminated back with a large number of glass crystal glass flowers. 1950s - Austria Very good...
Murano Glass
$2,600
H 3.15 in Dm 20.08 in
Emil Stejnar Backlit Mirror, Rupert Nikoll, Brass Glass White Metal, 1950s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar, Vereinigte Werkstätten München, Stilnovo, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A round wall mirror with illuminated background designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria, manufactured in Mid-Century, circa 1960 (late 1950s or early 1960s). The mirror c...
Metal
$2,400
H 3.94 in Dm 17.72 in
Illuminated Mirror Glass & Brass by Emil Stejnar, Rupert Nikoll, Austria, 1950s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant illuminated mirror with pearls on a brass frame. Designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Vienna, Austria in the 1950s. Measures: diameter 17.7" in. (45 cm). Lighting: ...
Crystal, Brass
$1,066
H 3.94 in Dm 23.63 in
Large Round Illuminated Lucite Flower Mirror Emil Stejnar Rupert Nikoll, 1955
By Münchner Zierspiegel
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
A beautiful large round flower wall mirror with illuminated background and hundreds of Lucite blossoms by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria. Fine working condition. Measures: W...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sleek vintage modern wall mirror featuring a small shelf, stamped RS. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Wood
Emil Stejnar Backlight Mirror '50
By Schöninger, Emil Stejnar
Located in Hannover, DE
A round wall mirror by Münchner Zier-Form, designed by Emil Stejnar, with indirect lighting and plastic flowers from the 1960s. This vintage item is fully functional and in very good...
Sheet Metal
Sold
H 3.15 in Dm 15.75 in
Round Illuminated Backlit Wall Mirror by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, 1970s
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Antwerp, BE
Round mirror in white lacquered metal and lucite opal flowers and brass accent. Designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll, Austria around 1970s. The illuminated backlit wall mirror ...
Brass
Back Lit Mirror Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll
By Rupert Nikoll, Emil Stejnar
Located in Den Haag, NL
Vintage 1950s backlit mirror, designed by Emil Stejnar for Rupert Nikoll for the coffee “Ohne Pause Espresso” (now Café Segafredo), in G...
Lucite