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.
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
Art Deco Chrome "Taurex" Candlestick Holders by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase and Co., Walter Von Nessen
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
Art Deco Chrome & Cobalt Blue Candleholders by Walter von Nessen for Chase 1930s
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
Located in Detroit, MI
This pair of vintage American Art Deco candleholders was designed by Walter von Nessen for Chase circa 1935. The compact Machine Age design features spherical chrome bodies set over ...
Metal, Chrome
Antique Art Deco Taurex Chrome Candlestick Holders Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
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
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
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
$6,378 / set
H 3.94 in W 8.67 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Exceptionally Rare Candlestick Holders designed by Gio Ponti for Ginori
By Richard Ginori, Gio Ponti
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of striking, very rare candlestick holders designed by Gio Ponti in 1927 for Richard Ginori. Candlesticks are done in white ceramics with details...
Gold Leaf
$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
$592
H 1.97 in W 13 in D 2.37 in
Swedish Art Deco Advent Candleholder by S:t Eriks, Copper Oxide Glaze, 1930s
Located in Göteborg, SE
Striking five-light ceramic candleholder produced by S:t Eriks Lervarufabriker, Sweden, during the 1930s. A rare piece from the early Swedish Art Deco period, it features the company...
Ceramic
$397 / set
H 8.67 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Art Deco Lucite and Chrome Candelabras, England, 1930s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A pair of Art Deco Lucite and chrome candelabras, made in England circa the 1930s, combining clear geometric forms with polished metal candle holders. Each two-light candelabra is co...
Chrome
$1,200 / set
H 4.25 in W 2.75 in D 4.25 in
Art Deco Bookends by Walter Von Nessen for Chase Brass, USA, 1930s
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of mixed metal art deco machine age bookends by Walter von Nessen for Chase, c.1930s, USA. The pair of bookends feature patinated swirls on a brass base. They are impressed with...
Brass, Metal
Art Deco Ceramic 3-Arm Candlestick Holder, France 1950s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a beautiful late Art Deco candlestick holder. It features a stunning 3-arm shape, done in yellow glaze. The design is notable for its minimalist, sleek ...
Ceramic
Vintage Arch Candlestick holders by ZACK - Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Introducing the rare ZACK Germany 8/10 Candle Holder in stainless steel – a true embodiment of elegance and craftsmanship. This distinctive candle holder, crafted by ZACK, renowned f...
Sterling Silver
$312Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 5.91 in W 3.94 in D 5.91 in
A Pair of Antique Candlestick Golden Candle Holder Brass Light for Home Decor
Located in Wembley, GB
So light up your home and the festival with this beauty! Candlestick The pair of candlesticks Keijser & Co, Westerås. Height 15 cm.
Metal, Sheet Metal, Bronze, Brass
Vintage Brass Candlestick Holders - A Pair
Located in New York, NY
Your classic pair of candlestick holders, made from brass that has beautifully aged over the decades. Dimensions: 4.375 in. width 3.875 in. depth 12.25 in. height Condition notes: ...
Brass