Illuminated Mirror Model 3648 – Bakalowits & Söhne

• The illuminated mirror, model 3648 by Bakalowits & Söhne is a wall light characteristic of mid-20th-century Austrian design. Its circular beveled mirror is surrounded by a décor of diamond-cut crystal drops.
• This illuminated mirror is part of the refined production of Bakalowits & Söhne, renowned for its crystal lighting and collaborations with leading Viennese architects. 1960s–1970s edition.
• Wiring checked. 4 lights. E14 LED bulbs included.
• Very good condition. Uncommon model.
• Dimensions: diameter 51 cm × depth 9 cm.
• Mirror diameter only: 38 cm.

Bakalowits & Söhne: history and craftsmanship of Viennese lighting

Founded in Vienna in the mid-19th century by Elias Bakalowits, the Bakalowits house quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading names in lighting and glassmaking. Initially specializing in glasswork, the company developed, from the late 19th century onward, a production of refined lighting—especially crystal chandeliers for palaces and major institutions of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Under the direction of Ludwig Bakalowits, the house collaborated with major figures of the Viennese movement such as Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Otto Wagner, asserting an identity at the crossroads of artisanal tradition and the avant-gardes of the Vienna Secession. Appointed official supplier to the Imperial Court, it fulfilled prestigious commissions for the Hofburg as well as for several European courts.

From the late 19th century, Bakalowits developed an international business, exporting its creations to Belgium, England, as well as to America and Asia. After World War II, the house took part in the reconstruction of major Viennese buildings, including the State Opera, Parliament and the Burgtheater.

From the 1960s onward, Bakalowits strengthened its global reach with large-scale projects: lighting for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, major ensembles for the Parliament in Belgrade, as well as installations for the Kuwait International Conference Center. These works belong to a spectacular modernist production combining crystal and metal, sometimes close to so-called “Sputnik” compositions.

Today, Bakalowits lighting is sought after for the quality of its craftsmanship, its decorative richness, and its major place in the history of 20th-century Austrian design.