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.
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
$3,895
H 54.5 in W 48 in D 20 in
George Nelson Leather & Walnut Illuminated Vanity with Mirror & Ottoman for Herm
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dimensions: 54.50in H x 48in W x 20in D Desk Height 27in Ottoman: 17in H x 22.50in W x 16in D Materials: Walnut Wood, Vintage Leather, Original Glass _______________________ Trans...
Leather, Glass, Wood, Walnut
$2,059Sale Price|20% Off
H 44.49 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Olof Ottelin, 1950s Vanity Desk Elisabeth for Stockmann Oy, Finland
By Olof Ottelin, Keravan Puuteollisuus Oy, Oy Stockmann AB
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Stylish Mid-Century Modern vanity desk with two drawers made in mahogany. Two sliding mirrors covering two glass shelves for storing make-up and oth...
Mirror, Mahogany
$1,487
H 47.25 in W 35.44 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Modern Glass and Steel Dressing Table with Oval Mirror, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
Mid-Century Modern Glass and Steel Dressing Table, 1960s, with Oval Mirror Elegant dressing table from the 1960s, featuring a sleek metal structure with a refined black opal glass t...
Metal
$28,000 / set
H 61 in W 24 in D 22 in
Art Deco Illuminated Vanity Together Mirror with Stool Paramount Theater Boston
Located in Westport, CT
Art Deco acid etched Illuminated Vanity with aluminum trim attached to Vanity with illuminated bottom column, original aluminum stool. From the women’s powder room Paramount Theater...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Vanity, Exotic Wood, Italy, 1950s
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Toelette pensile vintage con specchio rettangolare, mensola e cassetto con impiallacciatura in legno esotico.
Mirror, Wood
$2,795
H 28 in W 52.25 in D 22.25 in
Paul McCobb Vanity Table for Calvin, Irwin Collection, Circa 1950s
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Peabody, MA
A mid-century modern vanity table in Honduran mahogany by Paul McCobb, for Calvin Furniture, Irwin Collection, circa late 1950s.
Mirror, Mahogany
$3,102Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Vintage 1950s Italian Vanity/Desk with Mirror, in Solid Wood, Gio Ponti Style
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Presented here is a rare and beautiful little vanity desk, designed in the style of Giò Ponti and produced in Italy during the 1940s. Skillfully crafted from solid wood, it is a time...
Wood
$15,000
H 29.5 in W 43.25 in D 23.5 in
Italian Modernist Vanity or Desk with Mirror Interior, circa 1950
Located in New York, NY
An Italian modernist fruit wood vanity table or desk. Of highly sculptural form with Z - shaped legs, back iron supports and reed carved apron surround. The top is separated into t...
Iron
Iluminated Make-up console - dressing table, Italy 1950s
By Luigi Brusotti
Located in Wolfurt, AT
1950s dressing table, attributed to Luigi Brusotti. Features a tilting mirror, main transparent glass tray, and lower frosted glass tray with dots patterns. E14 bulb to illuminate th...
Brass
$3,250 / item
H 32 in W 21 in D 1.75 in
Stunning Mid-Century American Modern Craft Mirror by Dean Santner
By Dean Santner, Wendell Castle, George Nakashima
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this beautifully sculpted mirror by Dean Santner. Master craftsman Dean Santner designs was part of the American Modern Craft movement along side Wendell Ca...
Wood
Barovier & Toso, Threaded Yellow/Gold Murano Glass Wall/Table, Vanity Mirror
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice, wall/ vanity/ table mirror, Murano glass twisted /rope pattern with yellow bright cord inside. This mirror was designed with dual purpose, to be hang and also on a table, ...
Glass
Vittorio Dassi, Vanity Console Table, Italy, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vittorio Dassi, vanity console table, Italy 1950s Vanity beauty with original large mirror of the 1950s: very particular shapes and geometries.
Cut Glass, Mirror, Walnut