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.
Danish Modern Kalmar Designs Three-Piece Stainless Steel and Teak Serving Tray
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Danish modern Kalmar designs three-piece stainless steel and teak serving tray. Three pieces include one large divided serv...
Stainless Steel
$417Sale Price|40% Off
Vintage Italian Stainless Steel Five PIece Barware Set By Kalmar 1960's
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage 5 piece stainless steel set of barware utensils is by Kalmar from Italy. It is still in its original vintage box from the 60's. There is a card inside reading Kalmar 5 piece Bar Set describing and says it is non-tarnishable stainless steel in Italy. It is comprised of mixing spoon, bottle opener, utility knife...
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Teak Serving Tray or Platter
Located in San Diego, CA
Midcentury teak serving tray or platter from Denmark, circa 1960s. The platter is 12" in diameter and .5" high. The piece is in very good...
Teak
$2,025
H 7.09 in W 7.13 in D 7.13 in
World Globe Ice Bucket Acrylic Cube by Alessandro Albrizzi, Italy, 1960's
By Alessandro Albrizzi
Located in London, GB
Lucite cube bar ware depicting the world captured in a cube of acrylic that resembles an ice cube. Frosted world map of continents and orbiting moon. Suspended world globe ice bucket...
Acrylic
Vintage Midcentury Frosted Glass Ice Bucket Italy, 1960s
By George Briard, Culver Ltd.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Exquisite vintage Mid-Century Modern glass ice bucket, Italy circa, 1960s. A Mid-Century Modern glass ice bucket by DeValbor Italy featuring a wheat design pattern. over frosted glass. The bottom is marked Italy on one side and DeValbor on the other. Holds enough ice for a few cocktails. Looks great for any bar or counter. A swirl glass bottom gives this ice bucket beautiful visual interest. A gold band around the the top of the frosted area. Must be hand washed with a mild detergent like Ivory soap...
Glass
Jens H. Quistgaard Teak Serving Tray by Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in New York, NY
A divided teak wood tray with an end-grain teak cutting surface and a recessed section, designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk. Branded "Dansk Designs Denmark IHQ...
Wood, Teak
$1,400 / set
H 1 in W 26.5 in D 13 in
Nest of Three Staved Teak Serving Trays by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Complete set of three staved teak serving trays by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Designed with a slight size disparity (small, medium, and large) to allow the trays to nest together whe...
Teak
Sold|$668
H 4.93 in W 5.32 in D 1.97 in
Art Deco Cocktail Stick Barware Set By Sudre ' The Judge', French, c1930
By Raymond Sudre
Located in Devon, England
Original French charming novelty cocktail stick set signed by SUDRE with 6 chrome cocktail sticks. Depicts The judge sentencing a convict with two glum looking policemen by his side....
Aluminum, Chrome
$1,095 / set
H 13.5 in Dm 8.24 in
Glo-Hill 6 Piece Bar Tool Set with Carousel Stand in Cherry Bakelite and Chrome
By Glo Hill
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six-piece bar tool set with revolving stand by Glo-Hill in red/black mottled faux tortoise Bakelite and chrome. A hexagonal Bakelite plate with cut-outs for the six tools is supporte...
Chrome
Italian Brass and Brushed Steel Two Tier Bar Cart
By Maison Jansen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous 1970’s Italian two tier bar cart. Constructed of brass and brushed steel with mirror framed glass shelves. This is in beautiful vintage condition. Measurements: 34.5”...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$112Sale Price / set|55% Off
H 9.5 in Dm 9 in
Modern Barware Walnut Wood Ice Bucket Set Stainless Steel Tongs 1960s Japan
By Nevco, Dansk
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern barware from circa the 1960s. Walnut wood ice bucket barware set with Nevco stainless steel or aluminum tongs from the 1960s labeled fro...
Stainless Steel
$175 / set
H 1 in W 12.5 in D 5.75 in
Vintage Modernist Stainless Steel Barware Tool Set in Box Made in Japan
By Atapco
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredibly stylish, cool and hard to find Modernist handcrafted steel bar tool set, circa 1960s. The set includes four bar tools (bottle/can opener, long stir spoon, serving spade an...
Stainless Steel
$4,800 / set
H 9.25 in Dm 2.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Gold Plated Barware Set of Glasses & Mixer by Culver c. 1965
By Culver Ltd.
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large and complete 22k gold plated Mid-Century Modern barware set by Culver that's in great condition and free from any defects or gold wear. This set is really exquisite as if transported in time from 1965. Our shop collected this pattern over several years, purging damaged or worn pieces and keeping only the best. Voilà! We've done all the work for you - now it's yours to enjoy. Makes a most impressive gift for a friend or loved one. So chic, your cocktails have never looked better. The set has you covered for a fashionable and stylish cocktail party and includes 8 Whisky glasses, 8 Rocks glasses, 8 Highball cocktail glasses and a Cocktail Mixer with original glass stirrer...
Gold Plate
$599
H 1 in W 26 in D 19.5 in
Extra Large Danish Modern Teak Handled Serving Tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful serving teak tray by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, ca' 1960's. This is an extra large-hard to find version at 26"long and 19.5"wide. Great Danish crafstmanship and honest and ...
Teak
Midcentury Danish Modern Kalmar Teak Wine Racks
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of Kalmar solid teak wine bottle racks. They appear to have never been used and include the original label. Kalmar was Danish company which produced items in Thailand and Denm...
Teak
Pair of Wall Lights by Kalmar with Textured Glass Shades, 1960s
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Verviers, BE
Pair of 1960s wall-mounted uplight (sconces) with glass shades. The shades have a bark-like surface to help diffuse the light. Both units have chromed or steel mounting panel with po...
Sheet Metal
Sold
H 6.75 in W 4.5 in D 3.5 in
Tora Pors Kalmar Glasbruk Sweden Teal Blue Mother Child Myrica Art Glass Vase
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare Tora Pors hand blown teal green, blue and yellow Swedish art glass mother and child flower vase. Created in the Myrica technique, invented by Tora Pors, a Danish d...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Midcentury Coffee Set by Kalmar Designs
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in San Diego, CA
Very stylish three-piece, midcentury coffee set by Kalmar Designs manufactured in Italy. Each piece is made of seamless stainless steel with a solid tea...
Stainless Steel
Teak Ice Bucket
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Teak wood ice bucket manufactured by Kalmar Designs in 1960s. Great object with great function. .
Four-Piece Kalmar Stainless Steel Coffee Set Made in Italy
By Kalmar Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Stylish stainless steel coffee set, made in Italy for Kalmar. Stainless steel with wood handles. Coffee pot 12" H, small dimple of body of c...
Stainless Steel