Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
American, b. 1943
Though Robert Sonneman was quite literally born into the lighting business, it took working for another celebrated lighting maker for him to land upon the kind of boundary-pushing modernism for which the New York–based designer is known today.
At the age of 19, fresh off a stint in the U.S. Navy, Sonneman responded to an ad for a position working in the studio of George Kovacs on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he became the sole employee. “Although my parents were in the lighting business, they came from a traditional perspective, and Kovacs introduced me to modernism,” Sonneman once said. “It was 1961, and I was immediately captured by the movement.”
While working for Kovacs, Sonneman became captivated by the work of the Bauhaus, and he began experimenting with the influential art and design school’s ideas of functional simplicity in lighting. In 1967, he opened his own studio.
Though Sonneman Design Group produced furniture for a brief time, the designer eventually elected to focus on the one category that had always fascinated him; the brand became known for its floor lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers that feature unconventional treatments toward shape and balance, often inspired by modern architecture. Sonneman once said of his work: “I saw the lamps that I built as lighting machines that glorified the industrial aesthetic.”
Indeed, in the spirit of Bauhaus functionality — Sonneman has also cited Mies van der Rohe as being an inspiration — the designer’s work takes function-centric forms and motifs and elevates them while prioritizing technology. This spirit of forward thinking continues today, as Sonneman’s brand, renamed SONNEMAN – A Way of Light in 2003, works with LED bulbs to continue to push the boundaries of what functional lighting can achieve aesthetically.
Current-day releases by SONNEMAN – A Way of Light (still overseen by Sonneman himself) feature 95 percent LED lights and include interior and exterior lighting as well as modular suspended lights as an alternative to track lighting. Sonneman’s vintage pieces, however, are still widely collected on the secondary market.
Find vintage Robert Sonneman lighting on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Robert Sonneman
Robert Sonneman Molecule Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage 8 light Robert Sonneman chrome orb molecule chandelier.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Space Age Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Modern Sonneman Pendant Colored Metal Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Robert Sonneman Mother Pearl tube Cathedral chandelier
Total height cm 100
Perfectly working
Every item of our Gallery, upon reque...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
1970s Tubular Pearl Metal Sheet Cathedral Chandelier Pendant Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s, Tube cathedral chandelier pendant by Robert Sonneman.
Modern sheets of mother-of-pearl metal form tubes on this sculptural modern art chan...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
1980s Memphis Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Conic 20” Chandelier
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a sculptural chandelier by world renowned architectural and Industrial designer Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, circa the 1987. This clean-lined chandelier...
Category
1990s North American Post-Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonnemen Brass and Chrome Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Houston, TX
1970s Robert Sonnemen brass and chrome chandelier, signed.
Category
20th Century American Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Robert Sonneman Large Mixed Metal Cityscape Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large scale mixed metal cityscape chandelier by Robert Sonneman. Rare example consisting of alternating brass and polished aluminum plates bound b...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Robert Sonneman "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
Modernist sheet steel and brass fixture, by Robert Sonneman. Large and impressive.
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
4 Space Age Chandeliers designed by Robert Sonneman for Luci Milano, Italy, 1970
By Luci Milano, Robert Sonneman
Located in Merida, Yucatan
4 Space Age Chandelier designed by Robert Sonneman for Luci Milano, Italy, 1970
It consists of a moulded glass globe and brass and steel hardware.
Priced i...
Category
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Robert Sonneman NOS Ventilator Series Postmodern Pendant Light
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Very cool Industrial style ventilator pendant lamp originally designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs in 1990 and manufactured in 2005 by Robert Sonneman Contemporary Visions. ...
Category
Early 2000s Chinese Post-Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Steel, Aluminum
Robert Sonneman Chandelier, Polished Metal, Tubular, Mid-Century Modern
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Large original 1970s version chandelier, Polished Metal, Tubular, Great Condition, Mid-Century Modern.
An unusually handsome and elegant Sonneman chandelier design that commands attention and enhances any space in which it is hung. Polished chrome. Official Union Made Local 29 AFL-CIO sticker affixed to underside of top portion. Sonneman sticker affixed along with the sticker showing its registration with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Issue No. C 238,881.
Robert Sonneman pioneered modern lighting making it an art form. World renowned and acclaimed for clean lines and alliance to form and function, his world famous award winning designs have been at the forefront of the design world for over four decades.
Robert introduced sleek, new functionalist lighting...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Cityscape Brutalist Brushed Steel Chandelier Vintage Midcentury
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A Robert Sonneman cityscape brutalist brushed steel chandelier. This stunning chandelier is a great showcase of brutalist design in a lightin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Steel
Late 20th Century Robert Sonneman 24 Bulb Chrome Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman, Sonneman Lighting
Located in Westfield, NJ
1970s Robert Sonneman chrome chandelier with 24 globe bulbs.
Polished and brushed chrome 6 arms hold the bulbs.
Chandelier has 6” drop (ch...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Cascading Pendant Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The cords are adjustable to your desired length and can extend another 6-12".
For more than four decades, New York City-based Robert Sonneman has been at the forefront of modern lig...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Sonneman Smoked Glass Chrome Pendant Chandelier Fixture 1970s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a captivating, chrome and smoked glass, cube pendant chandelier, by Robert Sonneman, circa 1970s. In excellent vintag...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Designed "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Modernist sheet steel and brass "Cityscape" fixture by Robert Sonneman. The chandelier is made of flat copper panels connection but steel rods.
Finished and replated to like new c...
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Copper, Steel
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Orbit Chandelier, 1987
By Robert Sonneman
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An interesting and elegant chandelier by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1987. Very well constructed, brass, glass, exposed wiring...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Pair of Chrome and White Glass Pendant Lamps by Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous pair of 1970s polish chrome and white glass pendant lamps by Sonneman. The lamps are chrome on the outside and black lacquer in the inside. A white glass cylinder covers ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman 1980s "Art Tech" Pendant
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
A New York 1980s "Art-tech" ceiling light by famed lighting designer, Robert Sonneman. Original label. Rewired.
Bio:
Robert launched his own lighting company under the Sonneman brand in 1967. His products were featured in retailers such as Bloomingdales, Macys and many others.
In 1974 Robert founded Sonneman Design Group developing products for leading brands for the home including, Lightolier, Sunbeam Appliance, Singer, Stanley Furniture, Brueton, Goody Products, Lifetime Brands and others.
Since 1967 Robert's work has been displayed by the Museum of Modern Art, Chicago Art Institute, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, UCLA Exhibition on Design, Karnette County Art Museum and the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum.
Robert has participated and lectured at Stanford University, Pratt School of Architecture, Parsons School of Design, Philadelphia College of Art and UCLA. He was also a contributor on Chrysler and Toyota projects at the Art Center, Pasadena College of Design, and served on the Nissan Design Advisory Board.
In 1990, Sonneman again broke new ground for Stanley Furniture with his "Urban Primitive" collection for Macy's, a comprehensive program of home furnishings.
From 1999 to 2005 Robert served as president and CEO of Ralph Lauren Home Product Development.
In 2003 with partners David Littman and Sonny Park, Robert founded Sonneman - A Way of Light.
Robert Sonneman pioneered modern lighting making it an art form. World renowned and acclaimed for clean lines and alliance to form and function, his world famous award winning designs have been at the forefront of the design world for over four decades. Robert introduced sleek, new functionalist lighting...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Steel
Robert Sonneman "High Style" Brass Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
A rare Robert Sonneman brass sculptural pendant chandelier.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Robert Sonneman Seven-Light Chrome Tiered Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in East Hampton, NY
Robert Sonneman seven-light chrome tiered chandelier. There is movement and illumination in this beautiful chandelier.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Adjustable Chrome "Tail Pipes" Hanging Lamp, Circa 1970
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Modern Robert Sonneman Chrome and Off-White Enameled Wind Chimes Hanging Pendant, Circa 1970. Featuring five staggered, variable, alternating and adjustable height Chrome tubes with ...
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Chrome Five Light Ring Fixture
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
Circular chrome rings surround the large exposed bulbs, five lights make this chandelier capable of illuminating a large space. Bright chrome finish, fine original condition.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Chrome, Stainless Steel
Sonneman Chandelier in Brushed Steel with Brass Fittings, 1970s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
Large architectural chandelier with interlocking geometric brushed-steel panels with brass fittings by Robert Sonneman, American 1970's. This chandelier is beautifully made and the c...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Steel
Robert Sonneman Brass & Lucite Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
Robert Sonneman polished brass light fixture with four arms.
Includes hanging chain and canopy.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
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Robert Sonneman chandeliers and pendants for sale on 1stDibs.
Robert Sonneman chandeliers and pendants are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Robert Sonneman chandeliers and pendants, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original chandeliers and pendants by Robert Sonneman were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chandeliers and pendants by George Nelson, Robert Long, and Tom Greene. Prices for Robert Sonneman chandeliers and pendants can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £381 and can go as high as £10,016, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £2,264.