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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
$3,221
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
'Dornstab' Floor Lamp by J.T. Kalmar
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Utrecht, NL
All new, contemporary edition of J.T. Kalmar's iconic 'Dornstab' design from 1947 in exclusive hardwood (Paul Ferro) or Wenge & bronzed brass base with silk fabric lamp shade. Made a...
Category

2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Brass

1 of 4 Murano Ice Glass Pendants by Kalmar, Austria, 1960s
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Aachen, NRW
Stunning Murano glass pendants by Kalmar, 1960s 5 structured glasses, beautifully refracting the light very heavy quality. Heavy quality and in very good condition. Cleaned, well...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Kalmar Mid-Century Modern Amber Crystal Murano Glass Tronchi Chandelier, 1980s
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Murano, Venezia
The chandelier you see in the photo is a vintage chandelier, designed in 1980 by Kalmar. It is composed of 49 elements called pipe-trunks and inside we find 5 bulbs that create wonde...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Brass and Leather 'Hase BL' Floor Lamp by Kalmar - NEW
By J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar Lighting
Located in Utrecht, NL
Floor lamp 'Hase BL' originally designed in 1952 by J.T. Kalmar, Austria, executed in polished brass and partly wrapped in a tactile leather to serve as a grip...
Category

2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Brass

1 of 2 Large Murano Ice Glass Chandelier by Kalmar, Austria, 1960s
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Aachen, NRW
1 of 2 Stunning Murano glass chandelier by Kalmar, 1960s Two tiers gather structured glasses, beautifully refracting the light very heavy quality. High quality and in very good cond...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

1 of 2 Extra Large Tulipan Glass Chandelier by Kalmar, Austria, 1960s
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Aachen, NRW
Wonderful onion-shaped -Tulipan glass chandelier. 155 hand-blown glasses suspended on a white painted metal frame. Best of design from the 1960s by Kalmar, Austria. High quality of t...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Kalmar Ice Glass Wall Sconces 3 Tiers by J.T. Kalmar, 1970s
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful and elegant modern ice glass and brass wall lights / sconces, manufactured by J.T. Kalmar, Austria in the 1970s. Lovely design, executed to a very high standard. Each wall ...
Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Brass

Austrian Mid-Century Set of Four Murano "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty, stunning and unique Austrian Mid-Century "Kalmar" Wall Sconces, model "Citrus" 4663/2. These Sconces were desifned and manufactured during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar Fran...
Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kalmar Lighting

Materials

Metal

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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.

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