Emil Stejnar & Rupert Nikoll ‘Sputnik Snowball’ Val Saint Lambert chandelier, gilded glass & brass, ca 1960

Designed by Emil Stejnar and published by Robert Nikoll in the 50s/60s, mounted with crystal pastilles (Val Saint Lambert, Belgium). Ball diameter: 50 cm. Total height including chain: 80 cm. Good general condition and electricity in order. Biography: Emil Stejnar is known for his space-age design lighting, although he claims that his career in design stems from his passion for magic and mysticism. He was born in Austria in 1939, where he studied jewelry making. The study of the cosmos and the occult fascinated him from an early age: at the age of 18, he moved to Sweden to pursue his passion. In addition to his work as a jeweler, Emil Stejnar also headed the Institute for Scientific Research on Life for almost 20 years. He is convinced that the combination of Freemasonry and astrology connects objects to the spiritual world. His articles appeared in numerous publications, and he became famous in the world of esotericism. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Emil Stejnar designed several pendant, ceiling and wall lamps for the Viennese lighting factory Rupert Nikoll. His ceiling lights are characterized by their star shapes and powder-coated glass, his most famous lamp being the Sputnik. The Sputnik lamp is often called a dandelion (or Pusteblume in German), or a snowball. It's not clear whether these names refer to distinct forms of the Sputnik lamp, or whether they're nicknames. Immediately recognizable by its dancing shadows when illuminated, the Sputnik ceiling lamp is one of the most widely reproduced luminaires.