The Met Series
10Pages

The Met Series by Hans Harald Rath

When the New York Metropolitan Opera opened on September 13th, 1966, the first applause went to the twelve chandeliers that rose towards the ceiling with the first curtain. On the opening night audience and journalists were startlingly impressed by Starburst Chandeliers from Vienna, a gift to the United States of America by the Republic of Austria out of gratitude for the European Recovery Program after World War II. The design comes from the pencil of Hans Harald Rath, company owner of those days, who worked in close collaboration with the architect. The fixtures also were the first...

Series 6725 Metropolitan Foyer Visible through the great windows of the Met between the two monumental Chagalls the fixtures have the best showroom one could wish for. Not only opera goers stop in admiration looking into the foyer and at the magnificent chandeliers. It is no wonder this design is our single best selling line. Hans Harald Rath, 1963 Brass, Swarovski and hand-cut crystal; Nickel finish with black accents 6725-D-11: Ø: 60 cm, h: 40 cm; 9 kg; 11 lights, 660 max.W. 6725-L-13: Ø: 76 cm, h: 45 cm; 11 kg; 13 lights, 780 max.W. 6725-C-16: Ø: 85 cm, h: 48 cm; 16 kg; 16 lights, 960...

Series 6660 Metropolitan Auditorium Also designed in 1963 this type of the Metropolitan Chandelier litteraly gilds the opera‘s auditorium. Hidden there from the casual stroller these chandeliers are a hidden classic. It was them the audience dedicated the first applause when the chandeliers rose before the opening performance in 1966. Hans Harald Rath, 1963 Brass, Swarovski and hand-cut crystal; Polished brass with black accents 6660-D-11: Ø: 60 cm, h: 40 cm; 9 kg; 11 lights, 660 max.W. 6660-L-13: Ø: 76 cm, h: 45 cm; 11 kg; 13 lights, 780 max.W. 6660-C-16: Ø: 85 cm, h: 48 cm; 16 kg; 16...

Wall Sconces Metropolitan Wall Sconce 6675-W-3 Hans Harald Rath, 1963 W.: 20 cm, H.: 40 cm P.: 8 cm; Wt.: 3 kg 3 lights; max. W.: 180 Brass, hand cut crystal; Nickel finish The Metropolitan line is accompanied by a selection of sconces. Some of those are very similar to their models, some are very different. Others combine the different aspects in interesting ways… Fingers Wall Sconce 6865-W-3 Hans Harald Rath, 1968 Metropolitan Wall Sconce 6675-WS-3 Hans Harald Rath, 1963 W.: 38 cm, H.: 30 cm P.: 7 cm; Wt.: 3 kg 3 lights; max. W.: 180 Brass, Swarovski crystal; Nickel finish W.: 13 cm, H.:...

Candle sticks and Standing lamps Lights of Vienna Candle Stick 6776-A-2 Hans Harald Rath, 1967 The signature series of candle sticks are among the last works directly from the hand of H. H. Rath. The other lighting objects in the wake of the Met offer a wide freedom for the interior designer to create stunning spaces. L x W.: 17 x 8 cm, H.: 17 cm Wt.: 1,5 kg 2 wax candles Brass, Swarovski crystal; Nickel finish Lights of Vienna Candle Stick 6776-A (B/C)-1 Hans Harald Rath, 1967 Lights of Vienna Candle Stick 6778-M-5 Lobmeyr, 2002 W.: 8 cm, H.: 11,13,17 cm Wt.: 1 kg 1 wax candles Brass,...

More fixtures from the Seventies Donhauser Chandelier 6867-B-12 Page Donhauser, 1968 L x W.: 85 x 53 cm, H.: 38 cm Wt.: 9 kg 12 x E14; max. W.: 720 Brass, Swarovski and hand cut crystal; Nickel finish The years after the grand Metropolitan project saw a great deal of innovation building on the new aesthetics established with the Metropolitan Opera chandeliers… Embassy Chandelier 6719-A-12 Ceno Kosak, 1966 Brilliant Pendant Lamp 6878-4 Lobmeyr, circa 1970 Dia.: 42 cm, H.: 56 cm Wt.: 10 kg 12 x E14; max. W.: 720 Brass, Swarovski and hand cut crystal; Nickel finish Dia.: 44 cm, H.: 50 cm Wt.:...

The Making of ... Impressions from our workshop in Vienna The Metropolitan series especially breathes the air of the late 20th century and the dawning of a new age of technology and the step into space. Considering this we at Lobmeyr embody the antipode by enriching this with the canny and caring hands of our craftsmen. It is the contrast of these two worlds that make this series sustain as a modern classic for half a century. Beside this our low-tech approach enables us to offer a wide variety of custom manufactures. Altering the size of the designs to exactly fit a specific room is just a...

Every 40 to 50 years a Lobmeyr chandelier should be checked. In 2008 we had the pleasure of completely restoring the chandeliers at the Met which involved them being shipped back to their cradle in Vienna’s 3rd district. In numbers this meant: 11 chandeliers 1.000 brass rays 800 Sputnik elements 50.000 steel spokes 51.500 individual crystals 1.200 man hours in 9 ½ weeks Let’s work together and take care of our planet so our grandchildren can return to an opera for the next refurbishment around 2060! Two generations of owners at „their“ respective opening performances 1966 - Hans Harald Rath...