Lobmeyr, a story set in crystal
Published on 6 October 2023
Crystal maker Lobmeyr is celebrating its bicentenary this year, having been a regular exhibitor at Maison&Objet since 2010. This family firm’s story is inextricably entwined with the decorative arts, a passion that has filtered down through the generations.
When two princes write to each other, what do they actually say? On January 18th 1885, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria was corresponding with his brother-in-law, Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. His letter was discussing the need to find a birthday gift for their father-in-law, the King of Belgium. The son of Emperor François Joseph and the famous Sissi wrote: “one of Lobmeyr’s stunning crystal pieces would be most suitable. They are an Austrian speciality and the very best our industry can produce.” Having founded his glass factory in Vienna in 1823, Josef Lobmeyr rapidly acquired a reputation for excellence. In 1856, his son Ludwig Lobmeyr created the glassware service N°4 made from “mousseline” crystal, whose thickness ranged from just 0.7 to 1.1 mm. Breathtakingly modern with clean, pure lines, it continues to feature in the Lobmeyr catalogue to this day, alongside the very latest design, number 286, the brainchild of British designer Ilse Crawford, the 2016 Maison&Objet Designer of the Year.
A glittering range featuring 5,000 chandeliers
Two hundred years after it was first founded, Lobmeyr is still a family firm. Each successive generation has remained true to the foundations Josef first laid, championing design innovation and outstanding craftsmanship. After Josef came Ludwig Lobmeyr, whose creations shone at the great universal exhibitions of the late 19th century. Ludwig Lobmeyr’s nephew, Stefan Rath, then took the reins, hiring avant-garde artists from the Wiener Werkstaette (the Viennese Workshop), whose illustrious members included the likes of Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele. Straddling the line between art nouveau and art deco, the group invented modern design by creating everyday pieces with simple geometric lines. In 1912, Josef Hoffman designed the black-striped Series B for Lobmeyr, followed by the Patrician service in 1917, masterpieces that now grace the shelves of some of the world’s most iconic museums. Hans Harald Rath was the fourth generation to take the helm, proceeding to design 31 chandeliers and 332 wall lights for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, which was inaugurated in 1963. It is said that on opening night, the first round of applause was for the starburst-style lights that rose towards the ceiling as the curtain went up on stage. Lobmeyr now has 5,000 different chandeliers in its catalogue, which generate half of its turnover. Today, the three cousins Andreas, Leonid and Johannes Rath have taken over from Harald, Peter and Stefan, their fathers. They all spent their childhoods in the firm’s workshops, exhibition rooms, and flagship store at 26 Kärntner Strasse in Vienna. Riding the wave of the newfound demand for unique handcrafted pieces, Lobmeyr’s designs now take pride of place in institutions, hotels and private properties the world over, with designers such as Matteo Thun, Max Lamb, Aldo Bakker and Michael Anastassiades being called upon to propel the firm’s existing collections firmly into the future. Imperial.
By Caroline Tossan
Illustration ©Sarah Bouillaud
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