Large "Stella" Chandelier by J. T. Kalmar
About the Item
- Creator:J.T. Kalmar (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)Diameter: 34.26 in (87 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Vienna, Austria
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Large Atomic RS-System Chandelier by KalmarBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATRare RS 16 HL System by J.T. Kalmar from the 1970s. The construction is made of four long and four short tubes and 16 hand blow glass shades (each 12cm or 4,72inch diameter), powered...Category
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsAluminum
- Large J.T. Kalmar Chandelier by Josef FrankBy J.T. Kalmar, Josef FrankLocated in Vienna, ATLarge brass frame with nine arms in two tiers each fitted with E27 porcelain sockets each with silk shades. Designed by Josef Frank in the 1930s for J.T. Kalmar produced in the 1940s...Category
Vintage 1940s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Beautiful Large Kalmar Tulipan ChandelierBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATImposing chandelier manufactured by Kalmar in Vienna in the 1960s. Brass frame white enameled with 31 handblown art glass balls. Fitted with nine E14 sockets up to 40 W, it can be u...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Beautiful Large Chandelier with Textured Glass by KalmarBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATBrass construction with nine arms and textured glass shades, fitted with E14 socktes. Made in Austria in the 1950s J. T. Kalmar Vienna.Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Beautiful Large J. T. Kalmar Ice Cube ChandelierBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATStainless steel frame high gloss finish, flush mount with thirteen hand blow ice glass cubic formed elements, fitted with thirteen E14 sockets, made in Austria by J. T. Kalmar in the...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Frosted Glass Chandelier By J. T. KalmarBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATSteel frame painted with frosted glass elements, fitted with eight E27 sockets up to 60watts each manufactured in Vienna by J. T. Kalmar in the 1960s.Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsArt Glass
- Large Ice Cube Chandelier by Kalmar, 1960sBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Antwerp, BEExtraordinary chandelier made by Austrian company Kalmar. Consists of three layers and 32 pieces of solid ice block glass on a silver base. The chandelier-lit by twelve bulbs. Weight...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Large 'Tulipan' Chandelier by J.T. Kalmar for Kalmar, Austria, 1960s-1970sBy J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar LightingLocated in Steenwijk, NLThis large 'Tulipan' chandelier was designed by J.T. Kalmar for Kalmar in Vienna, Austria. The lamp is made of 1970 (more rare) clear blown glass onion shaped balls, hanging down on ...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Large Palazzo Ice Glass Chandelier by J.T. KalmarBy Palwa, J.T. Kalmar, Doria Leuchten Germany, Hans-Agne JakobssonLocated in München, DEWonderful and large ice glass chandelier from the 1960s. The 42 beautifully shaped Murano glass elements create an impressive, sparkling play of light. Exceptionally high-quality w...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Large Modern Ice Glass Chandeliers by J. T. KalmarBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Rijssen, NLThis modern chandeliers, manufactured by Kalmar Austria in the 1970s, have eight E27 sockets and three layers of textured solid ice glass sheets dangling from it. This unique chandel...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCut Steel
- Large Austrian Midcentury Glass "Catena" Chandelier by Kalmar, 1970sBy Kalmar Lighting, J.T. KalmarLocated in Badajoz, BadajozMarvelous, stunning and large Austrian midcentury chandelier from 1970s, model "Catena". This chandelier was made during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar. This fixture is composed by 3...Category
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Kalmar ChandelierBy J.T. KalmarLocated in Cathedral City, CA1960s handblown glass chandelier by J.T Kalmar.Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsGlass