Art Deco industrial designer Walter von Nessen is best known for his glamorous Machine Age lighting designs and for his invention of the swing-arm lamp. Von Nessen was born in Germany, where he studied under Bruno Paul at Berlin’s Kunstgewerbeschule. After World War I, he worked for the architect Peter Behrens, in Berlin. He left in 1919 for Stockholm, where he designed furniture until emigrating with his wife, Margaretta, to the United States in 1923. In 1927, the couple opened Nessen Studios in Manhattan, designing and selling sleek, modern architectural lighting.
Art Deco was both novel and exciting in the late 1920s — as, indeed, was electricity itself — and Nessen Studios was at the forefront of the movement. Electric lighting designers at the time had no direct models to follow. The shapes and silhouettes of gas lamps, lanterns and chandeliers had been influenced by those of the kerosene-, oil- and candle-lit fixtures that preceded them, which in turn were informed by the fuels they used. Electric lighting required designs that accommodated essentials of the new technology, like cords and sockets. Von Nessen and his contemporaries thus had to create fixtures that addressed these challenges and looked modern without appearing overly mechanical.
Along with industrial-design visionaries of the period like Raymond Loewy, Gilbert Rohde and Donald Deskey, von Nessen crafted a style that was emblematic of the Machine Age. He produced lamps and home accessories from spun aluminum, with smooth surfaces that evoked the polished gleam of streamlined automobiles and airplanes. And he experimented with other popular materials of the era, such as Bakelite, chrome and fiberglass. His ingenious design for the now-ubiquitous swing-arm lamp earned him a reputation as an innovator.
Von Nessen’s work is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, among other institutions. Designed to complement the luxurious interiors of the 1920s and ‘30s, still look fresh nearly a century later.
Art Deco Chrome & Cobalt Blue Glass Candleholders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase and Co., Walter Von Nessen
Located in New York, NY
This stunning pair of Art Deco candleholders, designed by Walter Von Nessen for Chase in circa 1935, embodies the innovative elegance of Machine Age design. Von Nessen's work is cele...
Chrome
Art Deco Chrome "Taurex" Candlestick Holders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Walter Von Nessen, Chase and Co.
Located in New York, NY
This stunning pair of "Taurex" candlestick holders, designed by Walter Von Nessen for the Chase Brass & Copper Company, exemplifies the elegance and innovation of American Art De...
Chrome
Pair of Art Deco Copper Candlestick Holders by Walter von Nessen signed Chase
By Walter Von Nessen, Chase and Co.
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite pair of Art Deco copper candlestick holders, designed by renowned modernist Walter von Nessen for Chase Brass & Copper Company, exemplifies the bold elegance and strea...
Copper
Walter Von Nessen For Chase Brass And Copper Candlesticks
By Walter Von Nessen
Located in New York, NY
1940's Walter Von Nessen designed for Chase, in vintage condition with some wear and patina due to age and use, they have been hand polished they show some w...
Brass, Copper
Antique Art Deco Taurex Chrome Candlestick Holders Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Walter Von Nessen, Chase Brass and Copper Company
Located in Detroit, MI
Set of four "Taurex" candlestick holders by German designer Walter Von Nessen (1889-1943) for the Chase Brass & Copper Company circa 1935. With sleek, geometric lines they exempl...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Copper Candlestick Holders by Walter von Nessen for Chase
By Walter Von Nessen, Chase Brass and Copper Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of solid copper candle holders by Walter von Nessen for Chase, c.1930s, USA. The pair of Art Deco candle sticks feature geometric circles a...
Copper
Vintage Art Deco Resin Candlestick Holders
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Indulge in the timeless charm of Vintage Art Deco Candlestick Holders, a delightful duo that effortlessly merges sophistication with a touch of whimsy. These pairs come adorned in a ...
Metal
Art Deco Disko Metal Candleholder by Just Andersen, 1930s
By Just Andersen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
- Large candelabra in disko metal designed by Just Andersen - Manufactured during the 1930s in his workshop in Copenhagen - This is model 155 and it features an octagonal base and ...
Metal
$750 / set
H 9.5 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Pair of Chrome 'Taurex' Candlestick Holders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase Brass and Copper Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chrome candle holders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase Brass and Copper Company of Connecticut, c.1930s, USA. The pair of Art Deco candle sticks feature a "J" shaped stem. The ...
Chrome
$895 / item
H 4.49 in W 9.45 in D 3.78 in
Elegant Brass and Copper Art Nouveau Candlestick by Carl Deffner Germany 1910s
By Carl Deffner
Located in Malmö, SE
An elegant counterweight Art Nouveau / Jugendstil candlestick with amazing patina. Model 518 in the 1902 Deffner Catalog. Made from brass and copper by manufacturer Carl Deffner in E...
Brass, Copper
Art Deco Revival Pair of Crystal Candlesticks
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Pair of lead crystal candle holders was made in Czech Republic for Mikasa. Vintage reproduction of Art Deco style, the candle holders are ...
Crystal
Art Deco Period Copper Figurative Sculpture by Chase
By Chase and Co.
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful rare American Art Deco period copper figurative sculpture piece by the Chase Brass and Copper Company Inc., circa early-20th century, USA. This copper sculpture is of a 'waiter in coattails' holding a tray and smiling. A very cool design, great for a wine store...
Copper
$260Sale Price|20% Off
H 9 in Dm 3.5 in
Art Deco Tubular Chrome Bud Vase by Ruth & William Gerth for Chase Co
By Ruth and William Gerth, Chase and Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Art Deco tubular chrome bud vase by Ruth & William Gerth for Chase & Co., circa 1930s. The design features a central chrome tube attached to which are three tubes of varyin...
Chrome
Art Deco Candlesticks, Hand-Turned Hardwood with Brass & Copper, 1930s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A refined pair of original Art Deco candlesticks, produced in England circa the 1930s, combining hand-turned hardwood stems with layered brass and copper bases. The design is strongl...
Brass, Copper
$3,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 18 in W 11 in D 3.75 in
Crystal Cobalt Blue Glass & Gilt Bronze Light Candleholder Girandoles Candelabra
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Crystal Cobalt Blue Glass & Gilt Bronze Light Candleholder Girandoles Candelabra . A Very Exquisite pair of late 19th century Swedish cut-glass crystal Girandole candelabra. Moun...
Crystal, Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze
$195Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 6 in Dm 5.5 in
Czechoslovakian Art Deco Cobalt Mercury Glass Ball Candlestick Holders, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Elevate your space with these striking Czechoslovakian mercury glass candlestick holders. Featuring a cobalt blue base and silvered accents, these pieces showcase the rich craftsmans...
Blown Glass
$1,180
H 8.5 in W 4.5 in D 4.75 in
Art Deco Stylized Cat Door Stop by Walter Von Neesen for Chase, circa 1935
Located in Buffalo, NY
Fabulous simple yet elegant design by Walter Von Neesen for Chase circa 1935. Brass & copper stylized in the form of a arching cat. Rare find. In excellent vintage condition with min...
Brass, Copper
$1,706 / set
H 11.62 in W 4.53 in D 4.53 in
WAS Benson. A pair of Arts and Crafts copper and brass candlesticks.
By Was Benson
Located in London, GB
W A S Benson. A pair of Arts and Crafts copper and brass candlesticks. Price for the pair.
Copper
Chrome "Taurex" Candleholders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
Located in Van Nuys, CA
An elegant pair of polished chromium Art Deco "Taurex" candle holders designed by industrial designer Walter Von Nessen for the Chase Metalworks Co., of Waterbury, CT. Von Nessen des...
Steel, Chrome
Pair of Art Deco Chrome Candleholders by Walter Von Nessen
By Walter Von Nessen
Located in New York, NY
These Machine Age candleholder are great examples of the Machine Ages influence on Art deco in America. They are u shaped form and would be great on any dining table or console or as...
Chrome