Rupert Nikoll sputnik ceiling lamp vienna around 1960s

The Rupert Nikoll lighting company’s biggest claim to glory came from producing work by the skilled Austrian jeweler and lighting designer Emil Stejnar. He designed several lighting and mirror pieces for the Austrian company. Stejnar had a penchant for symmetrical, rounded forms, often emulating starbursts or floral blossoms in his designs.

Very little information is recorded about the Rupert Nikoll lighting company or its namesake. The company was established in Vienna, Austria, in 1908, and later opened a branch in Munich, Germany. In 1966, its Vienna factory was relocated to Ober-Grafendorf, Austria, about 40 miles away. The company went out of business in 1986, closing the doors of all of its factories. 

Decades later, Rupert Nikoll chandeliers and floor lamps still stand the test of time. One of Rupert Nikoll’s most famous designs is the Sputnik pendant lamp, created in the 1960s by Stejnar. With several lighted spokes extending out in every direction, forming a shape similar to a dandelion puff, the Sputnik pendant lamp earned the nickname “Pusteblume,” or “Dandelion” in English. Many imitators have replicated the Sputnik design, but the originals are highly valued by collectors and interior designers. The company is also celebrated for its Sumatra floor lamp, crafted from brass and featuring a curved spine and bipodal base.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Rupert Nikoll lighting, mirrors and more to illuminate your space.