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J.T. Kalmar Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

In 1881, Julius August Kalmar founded Kalmar, a Viennese company that produced handcrafted objects of cast bronze. Kalmar developed a fine reputation and exhibited internationally often, but it was Kalmar’s son, Julius Theodor (J.T.) Kalmar, who took over in 1913 and made the company shine with its modernist lighting.

Having studied at the Birmingham School of Art and Design and under the Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna School of Applied Arts, J.T. was deeply inspired by the shift to modernity taking place in Europe and sought to work with the leading architects and designers of his time, including Austrian Werkbund architects Josef Frank and Oskar Wlach as well as Ernst Plischke, Clemens Holzmeister and Oswald Haerdtl. Similar to the Wiener Werkstätte cooperative cofounded by Hoffmann that prized materials, form and function, Kalmar viewed his company’s lighting fixtures as “quite humble things” meant to “fit in and serve their purpose of functionally illuminating spaces without glare.”

In 1925, Kalmar began selling in Haus und Garten, the forward-looking decor shop founded by Frank and Wlach. By 1931, a close partnership with the Austrian Werkbund association of architects, artists and craftsmen allowed the company to realize its vision of early 20th-century modernity — a distinctly Viennese pairing of traditional workmanship with contemporary technology. These collaborations included chandeliers and other fixtures using traditional materials such as glass, bronze and brass while focusing on function over ornamentation. As the company grew, so too did the scope of its projects, and soon Kalmar was installing extravagant chandeliers for the Vienna State Opera, the Burgtheater, Vienna stock exchange and other sites.

Under the guidance of Rudolf Calice, J.T. Kalmar’s son-in-law, the 1960s saw Kalmar’s popularity grow, thanks in part to the success of more decorative pieces like the ice-glass fixtures created with Austrian sculptor Karl Gruber. Thomas Calice, the great-grandson of Kalmar’s founder, led the company in the 1990s and its expansion to international lighting projects while shifting away from serial production. In 2009, Thomas’s son August Chalice established Kalmar Werkstätten to produce fixtures that reference the Kalmar archives but also feature updates on the iconic designs. Kalmar continues to produce bespoke fixtures while also working on custom lighting projects around the world, from cruise ships to the Burj Khalifa.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage J.T. Kalmar lighting that includes chandeliers, wall lights, floor lamps and other fixtures.

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Creator: J.T. Kalmar
Sculptural Swedish Modern Teak "Gondola" Tray by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar
Sculptural Swedish Modern Teak "Gondola" Tray by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar

Sculptural Swedish Modern Teak "Gondola" Tray by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar

By J.T. Kalmar, Tapio Wirkkala

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Gondola-form teakwood tray manufactured in the 1960s by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar of Sweden. Elegant, graceful form with rich color and vibrant teakwood grain. Conservatively ref...

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Set of eight crystals ice glass Kalmar Franken 1960s
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Eight large crystals from the prestigious Austrian house JT Kalmar Franken who, in 1960, created the well-known ice crystals, a benchmark in design lighting thanks to the thick glass...

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1960s Austrian Vintage J.T. Kalmar Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern J.T. Kalmar Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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Impressive J.T Kalmar Frosted Glass Sconces Made from Thick and Heavy Cast Glass
Impressive J.T Kalmar Frosted Glass Sconces Made from Thick and Heavy Cast Glass

Impressive J.T Kalmar Frosted Glass Sconces Made from Thick and Heavy Cast Glass

By J.T. Kalmar

Located in Verviers, BE

J.T. Kalmar frosted textured glass sconces There are 38 pieces available from government building Belgie. Impressive Kalmar frosted 1950s glass sconces made from thick and heavy cast glass. The lights are in excellent condition, holding two bulbs each. And in full working order. They look simply stunning mounted on the wall and give a wonderful warm glow as well as casting a beautifully pleasant light across a wall or ceiling. I can the lamps equipped with a screw terminal (white) as on picture. You can connect the cables as shown on picture. Prepare lamps is free as a service to you. Fitting lamp E14 Earth = green. Neuter = white Phase = black. Austria, 1970s. Good original condition. Marked by maker. model 4679/2/1/01/4 looks simply stunning. A new direction After the turn of the century, Julius Theodor Kalmar, son of the original founder, studied under the renowned Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna School of Applied Arts and the Birmingham School of Art and Design. Inspired by Josef Hoffmann and the arts and crafts movement of the era, Julius pushed the company in a new direction, away from the eclectic style of the late 19th century, and in 1925, Kalmar designs began selling in Haus und Garten, an avant-garde shop...

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Impressive J.T Kalmar Frosted Glass Sconces Made from Thick and Heavy Cast Glass
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J.T. Kalmar frosted textured glass sconces There are 38 pieces available from government building Belgie. Impressive Kalmar frosted 1950s glass sconces made from thick and heavy cast glass. The lights are in excellent condition, holding two bulbs each. And in full working order. They look simply stunning mounted on the wall and give a wonderful warm glow as well as casting a beautifully pleasant light across a wall or ceiling. I can the lamps equipped with a screw terminal (white) as on picture. You can connect the cables as shown on picture. Prepare lamps is free as a service to you. Fitting lamp E14 Earth = green. Neuter = white Phase = black. Austria, 1970s. Good original condition. Marked by maker. model 4679/2/1/01/4 looks simply stunning. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you and kind regards, Geert A new direction After the turn of the century, Julius Theodor Kalmar, son of the original founder, studied under the renowned Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna School of Applied Arts and the Birmingham School of Art and Design. Inspired by Josef Hoffmann and the arts and crafts movement of the era, Julius pushed the company in a new direction, away from the eclectic style of the late 19th century, and in 1925, Kalmar designs began selling in Haus und Garten, an avant-garde shop...

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Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern J.T. Kalmar Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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J.t. Kalmar serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.

J.T. Kalmar serveware, ceramics, silver and glass are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of J.T. Kalmar serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by J.T. Kalmar were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 1960s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Josef Frank, Hertha Bengtson, and Bengt Edenfalk. Prices for J.T. Kalmar serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $223 and can go as high as $350, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $286.