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Kalmar Lighting

Austrian

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 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, Julius 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 Opera, the Burgtheater, Vienna stock exchange and other sites.

Under the guidance of Rudolf Calice, Julius Theodor 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 Kalmar lighting that includes wall lights, floor lamps and other fixtures.

Average Sold Price
$2,892
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Austrian Mid-Century Pair of "Citrus" Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
Austrian Mid-Century Pair of "Citrus" Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

Austrian Mid-Century Pair of "Citrus" Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar

Located in Badajoz, Badajoz

Beauty and stunning Austrian Mid-Century "Kalmar" Wall Sconces, model "Citrus" 4663/2. These Sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar Franken KG. ...

Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Chandelier Pendant Light Kalmar 'Tulipan', Glass Brass, 1970
Mid-Century Modern Chandelier Pendant Light Kalmar 'Tulipan', Glass Brass, 1970

Mid-Century Modern Chandelier Pendant Light Kalmar 'Tulipan', Glass Brass, 1970

By Orrefors, Mazzega, Kalmar Lighting, Venini, J.T. Kalmar

Located in Hausmannstätten, AT

A fantastic light fixture model Tulipan by J.T. Kalmar, Vienna, Austria, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s or early 1970s). The name Tulipan derives from the tulip s...

Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

1 of 3 Large Murano Kalmar Sconces Wall Lights, Austria, 1960s
1 of 3 Large Murano Kalmar Sconces Wall Lights, Austria, 1960s

1 of 3 Large Murano Kalmar Sconces Wall Lights, Austria, 1960s

By Kalmar Lighting

Located in Aachen, NRW

1 of 3 Wonderful mid-century wall sconces with a large Murano glass piece on a brass frame, made by Kalmar, Austria, manufactured circa 1960-1969. High quality and in very good cond...

Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Brass

Austrian Midcentury Set of Three Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
Austrian Midcentury Set of Three Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

Austrian Midcentury Set of Three Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

By J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar Lighting

Located in Badajoz, Badajoz

Beauty and stunning Austrian Set of Three "Kalmar" Wall Sconces, model "Citrus" 4663/2. These Sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar Franken KG....

Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Austrian Mid-Century Set of Eight Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
Austrian Mid-Century Set of Eight Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

Austrian Mid-Century Set of Eight Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s

By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar

Located in Badajoz, Badajoz

Unique, beauty and stunning Set of Eight Austrian Mid-Century smoke Murano Glass Wall Sconces, model "Citrus". These sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Austri...

Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Large White Glass Pendant light by Kalmar-Fazzoletto, Austria, 1970s
Large White Glass Pendant light by Kalmar-Fazzoletto, Austria, 1970s

Large White Glass Pendant light by Kalmar-Fazzoletto, Austria, 1970s

By Kalmar Lighting

Located in Aachen, NRW

Stunning glass Pendant light by Kalmar -Name of this Serie: Fazzoletto , made in the 1970s Nice structured glass, beautifully refracting the light. High quality and in very good co...

Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

1 of the 8 of Tulipan Wall Lamps or Sconces by J.T. Kalmar 'H 21.2', 1960s
1 of the 8 of Tulipan Wall Lamps or Sconces by J.T. Kalmar 'H 21.2', 1960s

1 of the 8 of Tulipan Wall Lamps or Sconces by J.T. Kalmar 'H 21.2', 1960s

By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar

Located in Rijssen, NL

1 of the 8 unique elegant 'Tulipan' glass wall sconces by J.T. Kalmar, Austria, Vienna, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s-early 1970s). With tulip shaped hand blown ...

Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Austrian Vintage Sculptural Murano Glass Wall Light Sconce by Kalmar 60s
Pair of Austrian Vintage Sculptural Murano Glass Wall Light Sconce by Kalmar 60s

Pair of Austrian Vintage Sculptural Murano Glass Wall Light Sconce by Kalmar 60s

By J.T. Kalmar, Mazzega, Kalmar Lighting, Carlo Nason

Located in Berlin, DE

Pair of organic clear blown Murano glass sconce by J.T. Kalmar. Austria, 1960s.

Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal

Browse all Furniture from Kalmar Lighting
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Kalmar Lighting Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2026$1,400Wall Lights and SconcesMurano Glass1960-1969
2026$2,730Flush MountGlass, Brass, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass1970s
2026$443Wall Lights and SconcesBrass, Glass1960s
2026$3,965Chandeliers and PendantsBrass, Metal1950s
2026$1,276Chandeliers and PendantsMurano Glass1970-1979
2026$3,595Flush MountMetal, Brass, Glass1970
2026$1,960More Lighting, Wall Lights and SconcesMetal, Brass, Murano Glass1970
2026$2,131Chandeliers and Pendants, LanternsGlass, Murano Glass, Metal1970-1979
2026$1,398Wall Lights and SconcesMurano Glass1970-1979
2026$1,850Wall Lights and SconcesMurano Glass1960-1969
2026$1,720More Lighting, Wall Lights and SconcesMetal, Brass, Murano Glass1970
2026$1,500Wall Lights and SconcesBrass, Murano Glass1970-1979
2026$3,570Chandeliers and PendantsMurano Glass1960-1969
2026$9,810Chandeliers and Pendants, Flush MountMetal, Glass1970
2026$1,750More Lighting, Wall Lights and SconcesMetal, Brass, Murano Glass1970
2026$2,869Wall Lights and SconcesGlass, Brass, Murano Glass1960-1969
2026$2,040Wall Lights and SconcesGlass1960-1969
2026$13,000Chandeliers and PendantsCrystal, Murano Glass1970-1979
2026$1,700More Lighting, Wall Lights and SconcesMetal, Brass, Murano Glass1970
2026$6,650Table Lamps, Floor LampsBrass, Textile, Blown Glass, Metal, Fabric, Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Nickel1970
$2,892
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$111-$17,800
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Kalmar Lighting

Kalmar Lighting furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Kalmar Lighting furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Kalmar Lighting furniture, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 820 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 5 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Kalmar Lighting were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Rupert Nikoll, J.T. Kalmar, and Emil Stejnar. Prices for Kalmar Lighting furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $245 and can go as high as $39,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,281.