Vintage Austrian "Kalmar" Crystal Four Tier Chandelier
View Similar Items
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Vintage Austrian "Kalmar" Crystal Four Tier Chandelier
About the Item
Founded in Vienna by Julius August Kalmar in the 1880s, Kalmar first specialized in the production of handcrafted objects of cast bronze. The company soon established its practice of closely collaborating with prominent architects to create chandeliers and other cast bronze objects in Austria, Europe and the United States. Before long it was presenting custom-made wares at international exhibitions such as the 1888 Vienna Trade Exposition (Gewerbeausstellung Wien), the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, the 1901 Export Exposition Scandinavia and the 1906 Austrian Exhibition, Earl’s Court, London.
After the turn of the century, Julius Theodor Kalmar, son of the original founder, studied under the renowned Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna School of Applied Arts and the Birmingham School of Art and Design. Inspired by Josef Hoffmann and the arts and crafts movement of the era, Julius pushed the company in a new direction away from the eclectic style of the late 19th century, and in 1925 Kalmar designs began selling in Haus und Garten, an avant-garde shop for home furnishings founded by architects and designers Josef Frank and Oskar Wlach. The shop was to become a main venue of modern Austrian interior and lighting design and a trademark in the promotion of Viennese design abroad.
By 1931, Kalmar was concerned solely with designing and manufacturing high quality lamps and fixtures in cooperation with the architects of the Austrian Werkbund, an association of artists, craftsmen, architects and manufacturers founded in 1912. Their purpose was the promotion of a high regard for material, form and function in the handcrafted as well as industrial production of fine art and applied arts. They sought modernity by combining classical tradition and contemporary innovation. Recognized as a typically Viennese style by the 1930’s, this “moderate modernity” integrated the ornament-stripped purism of Adolf Loos with more traditional elements.*
Julius Theodor Kalmar saw lighting fixtures as “quite humble things, which fit in and serve their purpose of functionally illuminating living spaces without glare -- and that is what it all comes down to, as far as lamps are concerned as well as in all aspects of life: fitting in with the given framework and with the overall concept.”
Thanks to the younger Kalmar’s involvement and personal acquaintance with the leading European architects of the day, the name Kalmar became associated with high quality modern design. The company flourished, producing light fittings for prominent Austrian architects and designers including Frank and Wlach, as well as Oskar Strnad, Clemens Holzmeister, Oswald Haerdtl, Ernst Plischke, and others. As the company grew, the size and scope of its contracts increased, and soon it was producing chandeliers and major installations for clients such as the Vienna Opera, the Burgtheater, the new theaters in Linz and Salzburg and the Vienna stock exchange.
During the 1960s and 70s, Kalmar became increasingly involved in the production of decorative glass objects. Initially designed for the retail market, the company’s hand-blown and moulded relief glass elements offered vast decorating possibilities in large or small areas.
As a result, the demand for Kalmar installations grew steadily, and the company became more widely known among international design and architecture professionals. In the 1990’s, the great-grandson of the founder, Thomas Calice, shifted the company’s focus to international lighting projects. He phased out Kalmar’s own product lines and concentrated the company’s resources on the production of decorative, functional and technical lighting installations. The company has expanded in this specialized area and now produces prestigious custom designed and manufactured lighting installations throughout the world.
In recent years Kalmar has produced major lighting installations for government buildings and palaces, museums, theatres, hotels and cruise ships. These projects include the Presidential Palace of the Kremlin, the State Tretjakov Gallery in Moscow, the new Shanghai Grand Theater, hotels including the Ritz Carlton in Berlin, Doha and Osaka, the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, the W-Hotel in Doha, Shangri-la hotels in Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Suzhou, the Hilton in Adelaide, Bahrain, Bangkok, London and Seoul and the Sheraton in Cairo, Frankfurt and Stockholm, as well as cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager, Freedom and Genesis class ships and the Cunard Line’s RMS Queen Mary 2 and MS Queen Victoria, in addition to the Dubai and Jeddah Airports, the Burj Tower and the Qatar Education City Convention Centre.
- Dimensions:Height: 21.25 in (53.98 cm)Diameter: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960's
- Condition:In very nice original condition. Please note fading color on canopy-- best seen in the main image.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: clg051stDibs: U11081982433314
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1992
1stDibs seller since 2006
1,325 sales on 1stDibs
More From This SellerView All
- Vintage French Four-Light Crystal Fruit Chandelier, circa 1920 from ChantillyLocated in Chicago, ILQuite unusual to find an old French Chandelier to have Hand-Cut Crystal Fruit in such soft colors and not be some new off-shore reproduction. This particular Vintage French Fruit Motif Chandelier was sourced from an incredible small Antique Dealer just outside of Castle in Chantilly...Category
Early 20th Century French Country Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
$1,960 Sale Price59% Off - Vintage Beaded and Crystal ChandelierLocated in Chicago, ILVintage crystal chandelier that is completely covered in beads. Our best guess would be, Italian made circa 1930s. Appears to be newly rewired and works perfect. Note: Please look a...Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
$1,680 Sale Price40% Off - Vintage French Hanging Grape Crystal Chandelier 6-Lites, Great in a Wine RoomLocated in Chicago, ILFrench vintage chandelier with hanging clusters of grapes that were typically made in Czechoslovakia. Rewired and in working condition. **The chandelier is askew.Category
Vintage 1970s French Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
- Vintage French Metal and Crystal 5-Light Chandelier with Very Nice PatinaLocated in Chicago, ILVintage petite French distressed painted 5-light chandelier. There is enough surface rust and natural aging to believe that this vintage French chandelier is not a new copy, but rath...Category
Vintage 1960s French Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- French Crystal and Bronze Chandelier with Unusual Details Including CameosLocated in Chicago, ILThis vintage French crystal chandelier was recently removed from a Chicago Gold Coast mansion and unfortunately, we do not have any history. The unique pa...Category
Vintage 1930s French Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBronze
$3,250 Sale Price50% Off - Spanish Chandelier in a Baroque Style, Brass and Crystal circa 1930sLocated in Chicago, ILSpanish Baroque style Chandelier, probably made in the 1930s. Unusual scalloped frame wrapped in glass. Thoroughly cleaned and prepped for installation. Height provided does not in...Category
Vintage 1930s Spanish Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
$1,690 Sale Price50% Off
You May Also Like
- Kalmar Two Tier Crystal Chandelier, Vienna, Austria, 1970By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. KalmarLocated in Bronx, NYKalmar chandelier, Vienna, Austria, 1970. Citrus was a design line Kalmar produced in the 1970s each glass is a thick heavy clear glass with a blend in of smokey glass Desirable two tier chandelier consisting of two rows of heavy thick pressed crystal pieces in a mix of clear and amber that works as a shade, this Kalmar Franken chandelier...Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Four-Tier German Crystal ChandelierLocated in New York, NYA lovely chandelier in brass and 24-karat gold plate with four tiers of sparkling crystals, circa 1950, from a German hotel.Category
Vintage 1950s German Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal
- J.T. Kalmar Tiered Crystal Glass and Gold Brass Chandelier Lamp, Austria 1960By J.T. KalmarLocated in Vienna, ATJ.T. Kalmar Tiered Crystal Glass and Gold Brass Chandelier Lamp, Austria 1960. Stunning three-tier chandelier in excellent condition. Measurin...Category
Vintage 1970s Austrian Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Gold Plate, Brass
- Kalmar Austrian ChandelierBy J.T. KalmarLocated in New York, NYAustrian Chandelier by Kalmar. Brass arms with walnut wood detail supporting pressed molded glass shades. Five arms angled up with shades and light directed down. Snowflake styled pa...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Palazzo Kalmar Gold, Crystal Chandelier, 1970s, AustriaBy Kalmar Lighting, J.T. KalmarLocated in Bronx, NYPalazzo Kalmar gold crystal glass chandelier from the 1970s, Austria. gold gilded frame holding 22 pieces of thick exceptionally high quality crystal glass...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Metal
$5,175 Sale Price25% Off - Four-Tier Crystal Glass Kinkeldey ChandelierBy KinkeldeyLocated in Berlin, BEStunning four-tier chandelier by Kinkeldey with huge gem-like crystals and gold-plated brass frame. Same lamp in other sizes are also listed. Takes four bulbs. To be on the the saf...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsCrystal, Brass
$1,800 Sale Price25% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Calice Metal
Kalmar Wien
A Cruise Lamp
Sheraton Lighting
Now Voyager
Cruise Ship Lighting
70s Era Chandelier
Julius Theodor
Queen Mary Rms
Rms Queen Mary Furniture
Rms Queen Mary
Rainbow Lighting Company
Large 2 Tiered Crystal Chandelier
Vintage Industrial Furniture Birmingham
Kalmar Loos
Bertil Vallien Chandelier
Brass Compas
Christian Liaigre Mercer Kitchen