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About the Item
Back lit wall mirror. Designed by Emil Stejnar and produced by Rupert Nikoll, Austria in the 1950s. The mirror has an edge made from numerous glass flowers that reflect en disperse the light coming from behind the mirror. It has one E27 European socket that plugs into a wall outlet. The mirror is intended for use on a 240 volts power supply but can also be used for the US 110 volts network with the correct voltage bulb and plug.
The mirror is still in very good condition. No missing parts or damage.
Designer:
Emil Stejnar is a designer famous for his Space Age era lighting design, however for Stejnar himself, his career in design came second to his passion for all things magic and mystical.
Stejnar was born in Vienna, Austria in 1939 and trained as a gold and silversmith. The study of the stars and the Occult occupied him from an early age, and at the age of 18 he emigrated to Sweden to devote himself to his study. He ran a jewelry workshop during the day, which he continued when he got married and returned to Vienna in 1968. While running his jewelry business, Stejnar was the head of the Institute for Scientific Life Research, and did so for 20 years. He believed that the combination of freemasonry and astrology connected the material to the spiritual world. His hermetic beliefs were published in numerous publications, and Stejnar became well-known in the world of esotericism.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Emil Stejnar designed several pendant lamps, ceiling lights and sconces for the Viennese lighting manufacturer Rupert Nikoll. Starburst forms and delicate glass sprays are hallmarks of Stejnars ceiling lights, the most famous (and replicated) being the Sputnik Lamp. Confusingly, the Sputnik is often referred to as the Dandelion (or Pusteblume in German), and also as the Snowball. Contrasting information from various sources means it is difficult to confirm whether they were originally distinct in design to the Sputnik, or whether they emerged simply as nicknames. Nevertheless, the Sputnik, one of the most celebrated (and replicated) ceiling lamps of the 20th century, is immediately recognizable by its radiating glass flowers that create dancing shadows when lit. It inspired a generation of Space Age era designers to create their own futuristic lamps, yet the golden brass stems and intricate glass details, remind us as much of Stejnars devotion to the magic of the cosmos as it does to Space Age lighting design.
Stejnar currently lives in Sweden, preferring to remain outside of the public eye.
Manufacturer.
The Rupert Nikoll lighting companys 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.Creator: Emil Stejnar (Designer)Dimensions: Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)Width: 16.93 in (43 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)Style: Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)Materials and Techniques: Glass,Metal,MirrorPlace of Origin: AustriaPeriod: Mid-20th CenturyDate of Manufacture: 1950-1960Condition: GoodWear consistent with age and use.Seller Location: ECHT, NLReference Number: 1stDibs: LU9426237321322Shop All Emil Stejnar
Emil Stejnar
Its not often that one rsum can include hermetic magician, astrologer, gold and silversmith and lighting designer. Its fair to say that Austrian Emil Stejnar may be the only one to claim all of the skills above.
The clamor for mid-century modern design has been at a fever pitch since, well, pretty much the mid-twentieth century. And while many of the eras furniture makers have gained recognition over time, many designers remain obscure. Emil Stejnar is one such designer.
Born in Vienna in 1939, Stejnar trained in goldsmithing and silversmithing and opened a jewelry workshop in Sweden. Eventually, he began to translate his metal skills to light fixtures.
Vintage Emil Stejnar chandeliers and mirrors are practically jewelry themselves, featuring materials like 24-carat gold-plated brass and Austrian crystals. He had a penchant for symmetrical, rounded forms, often emulating starbursts, snowflakes or floral blossoms in his designs.
Stejnar found a partner in Austrian manufacturer Rupert Nikoll, which made an extensive amount of the designers astonishingly precious pieces. In fact, the biggest claim to glory for the brand, which was established in Vienna in the early 1900s, owes to Stejnars work.
While it seems that any lighting fixture having a starburst shape and numerous bulbs on the ends was dubbed Sputnik in the Cold War era, one of Rupert Nikolls 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, Stejnar’s 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 interior designers and collectors of Space Age design.
Find vintage Emil Stejnar chandeliers, wall lights, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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