J. & L. Lobmeyr
A Viennese Legacy in Glass and Light
1. Identity & Presence
J. & L. Lobmeyr, founded in 1823, is a distinguished Austrian family business cultivating Viennese glass culture and the art of lighting design. Their main flagship store is located at Kärntner Straße 26, 1010 Vienna, with their lighting atelier and studio for cutting and engraving glass at Salesianergasse 9, 1030 Vienna. Their website is www.lobmeyr.at, and they can be reached at wien@lobmeyr.at or +43-1-512 05 08-0. The company operates within the glassware, crystal, and lighting design sector.
Company Lobmeyr on Instagram
2. The Origin Story & Key Figures
The Lobmeyr story began in 1823 when Joseph Lobmeyr Sr. opened his shop at Weihburggasse in Vienna. He offered a variety of Biedermeier-era glassware, chandeliers and mirrors, eventually manufacturing his own designs and supplying the imperial House of Habsburg. The business has proudly remained family-owned, with leadership passing through six generations. Josef Lobmeyr Sr. founded the company. His son Ludwig became a pioneer in design for Austrian/Bohemian crystal, an exhibitor at world fairs, and a co-founder of the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). Notably, Ludwig collaborated with Thomas Alva Edison in 1882 to equip the Redoutensäle in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace with the world's first electric chandeliers. Stefan Rath (1902–1938), Ludwig Lobmeyr's nephew, led the company into Modernism, co-founded the Austrian Werkbund, and created modern classics with Josef Hoffmann and Wiener Werkstätte artists. His son, Hans Harald Rath (1938–1968), was pivotal in rebuilding Austrian crystal manufacture after WWII and revolutionized chandelier design, securing major commissions including the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The fifth generation, Harald, Peter, and Stefan Rath (1968–2000), expanded into Arabic and Japanese markets and established the Vienna Glass Museum. Today, Andreas, Leonid, and Johannes Rath, cousins, lead the sixth generation, focusing on intensive collaborations with new designers, adapting the product range, and developing an international distribution network. Each generation has been defined by their love of the material, an emotional relationship to the product, and personal commitment.
3. The Core of the Craft
Lobmeyr’s signature creations include exquisite crystal drinkware, decorative pieces, and iconic lighting. Their unique quality and artistic merit are defined by uncompromising handcraftsmanship and design; each piece of glassware undergoes blowing, cutting, engraving, and polishing entirely by hand, touched by "at least 18 caring hands." Their lighting products are meticulously manufactured in their Vienna atelier workshops. Their philosophy prioritizes "subtle shine instead of 'loud' glitter," favoring elegance and refinement in everyday life. They embrace traditional polishing techniques over industrial acid polish to achieve an "inimitable, natural shine." A core principle guides their approach: "adapt the tool to the design, not the design to the tool." Lobmeyr stands for authenticity, fine handicraft, curiosity, and outstanding design. They cultivate these values through continuous practice of traditional methods while embracing a contemporary interpretation of glass and light, ensuring "the old inspires the new, and traditional knowledge facilitates innovation." This commitment is further demonstrated through their ground-breaking collaborations with legendary designers like Josef Hoffmann, Adolf Loos, Ted Muehling, and Michael Anastassiades, resulting in timeless designs found in major museum collections worldwide.
4. Enduring Legacy & Resilience
Lobmeyr's ability to thrive for over two centuries stems from its unwavering commitment to handcraftsmanship, uncompromising quality, and a continuous, curious approach to design. Their "secret sauce" lies in their deep "love of the material" and "emotional relationship to the goods" which has driven each generation. This dedication to finely crafted details and unique design, prioritizing refinement over mass production, has allowed them to maintain their distinct position. Throughout its history, Lobmeyr has navigated significant challenges. Notably, Hans Harald Rath successfully "rebuilds Austrian crystal manufacture after the war," demonstrating the company's resilience in the face of widespread devastation. After losing Bohemian glass production sources in 1946/47, he played a crucial role in reconstructing the Austrian glassmaking industry and helped establish the glassmaking school in Kramsach. Later, the company adapted to new global markets, expanding into Arabic and Japanese territories under the fifth generation.
5. Vision for the Future
The current sixth-generation leaders, Andreas, Leonid, and Johannes Rath, actively shape Lobmeyr's future by emphasizing intensive collaborations with a new generation of designers. They continually adjust the product range to meet contemporary needs and developed an international distribution network. This strategic blending of tradition with innovation ensures their core values of authenticity, fine handicraft, curiosity, and outstanding design remain relevant and cherished. They are committed to letting "the old inspire the new," leveraging traditional knowledge to facilitate cutting-edge design.