VEB Wohnraumleuchten Sputnik Globes Chandelier

Materials: Chromed metal (iron) tubes. Chrome rod & canopy. Some plastic parts. 11 embossed clear crystal glass globe lampshades. 11 Bakelite E14 sockets.

Rod Length: 60 cm / 23.62’’

Height: 32 cm / 12.59”

Width: ∅ 57 cm / 22.44”

Electricity: 11 bulbs E27, 11 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: VEB Werk für Technisches Glas Ilmenau – VEB Wohnraumleuchten Erlau, GDR (East Germany).

Other versions: This VEB Wohnraumleuchten Sputnik globes chandelier exists with many different types of globes. Also made with more ore less glass globes.

Often named sunburst or atomic lamps, the reason is obvious.

Model: 6051.

VEB: Volks Eigener Betrieb – Publicly-owned business. VEB was the main legal form of industrial enterprise in the communist East Germany.

The label on this lamp says VEB Elektro Medizingeräte Ilmenau – VEB Electro Medical facilities from Ilmemau. Of course this chandelier has no medical purpose. On identical chandeliers we find the label VEB Wohnraumleuchten Erlau. In all probability these two factories originate from the same company before the mass nationalisation between 1945 and the early 1970s. Ilmenau and Erlau are some 25 km / 15.5 mi away from each other. Unfortunately no information can be found about the companies.

In 1972, due to the nationalization, almost all GDR lighting manufacturers were combined as VEB Narva.

There were several companies with the name VEB Wohnraumleuchten (Living room lamps) or VEB Leuchtenbau (Luminaire construction). For instance the companie VEB Leuchtenbau, Lengefeld was original Wittig und Schwabe Metalldruckwarenfabriken – Wittig and Schwabe Metal Printing Factories, Lengefeld. 

The design of these chandeliers was, to say the least, inspired by the Atomic chandeliers produced by J.T. Kalmar KG, Franken KG from Austria.