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Large J.T. Kalmar Chandelier, Brass Curved Textured Glass, Mid-Century, 1950s

Name: Large J.T. Kalmar Chandelier, Brass Curved Textured Glass, Mid-Century, 1950s
Brand: J.T. Kalmar
Price: 7500 USD

About the Item

A large brass and glass basket chandelier by J.T. Kalmar, Vienna, Austria, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1960 (late 1950s or early 1960s). Twelve curved and structured pieces of glass form a basket. This is a reminiscence of the typical basket chandeliers of the Viennese coffee house era of the 1950s. However, these chandeliers were made of many small glass crystals joined together and not, like this version, of large pieces of glass. This interpretation is a more modern form of the traditional interpretation. This is the largest version of this type of chandelier. The light has 12 sockets for medium or standard Edison screw base bulbs type E26 or E27. It is possible to install this fixture in all countries (US, UK, Europe, Asia, Canada,) although it may be necessary to purchase different light bulbs suitable to local electricity. It also can be used with a dimmer. The fixture is in very good condition. It has been cleaned and it is ready to use. Height body without rod: 10 inch (25 cm). The overall drop on the photos is ca. 20 inch (50 cm) but can be customized for free of charge. About Kalmar: Founded in Vienna by Julius August Kalmar in 1881, Kalmar first specialized in the production of handcrafted objects of cast bronze. After the turn of the century, Julius Theodor Kalmar, son of the original founder, studied under the renowned Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann. In the following years the company realized modern lighting concepts and designs. Kalmar worked together with the Austrian Werkbund and the most important Austrian architects like Josef Frank, Oskar Wlach, Oswald Haerdtl, Clemens Holzmeister, Ernst Plischke, and Oskar Strnad. Kalmar used traditional materials like glass, bronze, brass, and wood. His designs, including this chandelier, lacked ornament but favoured instead a purist aesthetics. Kalmar produced lightings of great craftsmanship, high quality workmanship, and timeliness design.

Creator:

J.T. Kalmar (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)Diameter: 29.53 in (75 cm)

Power Source:

Plug-in

Voltage:

208v,220-240v,110-150v

Lampshade:

Included

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Art Glass,Blown Glass,Brass,Glass,Metal,Murano Glass

Place of Origin:

Austria

Period:

1950-1959

Date of Manufacture:

1950

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Very good condition.

Seller Location:

Hausmannstätten, AT

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU1082437037482

Shop All J.T. Kalmar

J.T. Kalmar

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 (J.T.) 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, J.T. 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 State Opera, the Burgtheater, Vienna stock exchange and other sites.

Under the guidance of Rudolf Calice, J.T. 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 J.T. Kalmar lighting that includes chandeliers, wall lights, floor lamps and other fixtures.