1960s Cascading Pendant Chandelier

Materials: 5 white opal glass lampshades. 5 brass conical tubes with elongated slots. Big black acrylic ceiling mount. 5 Brass E14 sockets.

Cord Length: 40 – 70 cm / 15.74 – 27.55” – adjustable

Lamps: ∅ 11 x 20  cm / 4.33 x 7.87”

Glass: ∅ 11 x 8 cm / 4.33 x 3.14”

Ceiling Mount: 40 x 23 cm / 15.74 x 9.05”

Electricity: 5 bulbs E14, 5 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: RZB, Rudolf Zimmermann Bamberg GmbH, Rheinstraße 16, 96052 Bamberg, Germany – attributed. 

Other versions: This 1960s cascading pendant chandelier exists in all probability in several versions.

RZB, Rudolf Zimmermann Bamberg GmbH

RZB Leuchten was founded by Rudolf Zimmermann in Bamberg Germany at the beginning of World War II, in 1939. Initially the company manufactured circuit breakers, fuses and junction boxes components as well as porcelain luminaires.

Production of all-glass luminaires begins in 1948. At the same time the export to other countries takes a start. The introduction of RZB’s pioneering rapid attachment system for all-glass luminaires, known as DKN system, a push and tilt system has started in 1960.

In the years that follow the RZB family business continues to expand. In 1987 RZB begins partnering with the famous Italian light company Reggiani S. p. A. of Monza and Rome in the field of low-voltage luminaires. The cooperation ended in 2007.

Today RZB is specialized in indoor- and outdoor-lighting, emergency lighting and light management systems.

RZB Leuchten received 14 iF Design Awards between 1989 and 2017. In total the company received more than 44 international design awards: Red dot design, Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschand (German Design Award) and 5 Good Design awards (Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design).

Designers that worked for RZB are: Klaus Nolting, Helmut Heinrich, Hartmut S. Engel, Ralph Michel and so on.

The complete history of the company can be found on their website.

Acrylic

Acrylic: often named by its commercial name: Perspex, Plexiglas, Crylux, Acrylite, Lucite, is a thermoplastic.