FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Custom design is at the very heart of what we do. Our Design Studio works closely with clients, architects, and interior designers to create bespoke luminaires tailored to any space, style, or vision. From intimate private residences to monumental public halls, there is no limitation on scale, material, or aesthetic — if it can be imagined, we can design and craft it.

Production timelines depend on the complexity, scale, and materials of the commission. A smaller bespoke piece may require several weeks, while a monumental installation can take several months. We always discuss timelines transparently at the start of every project and work closely with architects and project managers to align with construction schedules. Quality is never sacrificed for speed.

Our atelier works with a wide range of premium materials: hand-cut crystal, mouth-blown glass, solid brass (cast and hand-formed), steel, chrome, nickel, gold, and bronze. We also use stone, fabric, acrylic, and composite materials for contemporary designs. Every material is chosen with intention, based on the design concept, the architectural context, and the desired interplay of light.

Our collections span ten curated style categories: Icons (legendary archival designs), Modern, Contemporary, Art Deco, Floral, Empire, Baroque, Gothic, Historism, and Arabic. Each category represents centuries of design evolution, handcrafted with the same meticulous attention to detail. Beyond these collections, our Design Studio creates entirely original bespoke designs without any stylistic limitation.

There is virtually no limitation on scale. We create delicate table luminaires and intimate pendants as well as monumental installations — our largest being the 17-metre-diameter chandelier for the Parliament of Belgrade, one of the largest ever made. Our modular design systems and in-house engineering allow us to realise projects of any dimension while maintaining absolute precision and quality.

Our bespoke process follows five stages: First, we study the architecture — the space, proportions, history, and light conditions. Second, we explore concepts freely with sketches and material studies. Third, we develop material and light interactions through prototyping. Fourth, our engineering team ensures technical alignment, structural integrity, and regulatory compliance. Finally, we present the refined concept for approval before production begins. Throughout, the client is closely involved.

Yes — this is one of our most distinctive capabilities. With over 10,000 original designs preserved in our archive, we can faithfully recreate any historical Bakalowits piece, adapt it to a new scale or context, or use it as inspiration for a contemporary reinterpretation. Our craftsmen use the same traditional techniques, and in many cases the original moulds, to produce results that are indistinguishable from the historical originals.

Every Bakalowits piece is bespoke, so pricing depends on the design complexity, scale, materials, and installation requirements. We provide detailed, transparent quotations after the initial design consultation. As a family-owned maison dedicated to enduring quality, our pricing reflects the exceptional craftsmanship, premium materials, and comprehensive service — from design through installation and ongoing care — that each commission encompasses. We are happy to discuss your project and budget in a personal consultation.

No. Bakalowits produces single bespoke chandeliers as well as large multi unit orders for hotels, opera houses, and public institutions. Whether you require one exceptional piece or a coordinated lighting concept for an entire building, our atelier adapts to the scale of your project while maintaining the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Yes. This is in fact what the majority of our clients seek. A bespoke commission with Bakalowits can be designed as a completely original work, produced as a single piece, and never repeated. We can formalise this exclusivity contractually if required.

We prefer to resolve all design decisions before production begins — changes mid-production can affect materials, lead times, and cost. That said, we understand that projects evolve, and we handle change requests pragmatically on a case-by-case basis. We will always discuss the implications of any change transparently before proceeding.

Payment is structured in stages aligned with project milestones: typically an initial deposit upon commissioning and to start the shop drawing process, a further payment upon approved and signed shop drawings and to start production, and the final payment prior to delivery with photographic confirmation. Exact terms are agreed individually for each project.

For large-scale commissions, we regularly produce individual prototype elements — such as a single arm, a crystal component, or a section of the fixture — for client approval before full production commences. This ensures that finish, material, proportion, and light quality match expectations precisely.

Large projects follow a structured process: initial briefing and site visit, concept development and renderings, technical engineering and structural review, prototype approval (where applicable), production in our Vienna atelier, and professional installation by our team on site. We coordinate directly with project managers, architects, and FF&E consultants throughout. Timelines for hospitality-scale commissions typically range from four to eighteen months depending on scope.

Absolutely. Bakalowits has completed installations across all continents, from European palaces and opera houses to luxury hotels in Asia and the Middle East. Whether your project is in Vienna or across the world, we deliver and install with the same exacting standards.

Large and complex chandeliers are transported using custom engineered packaging developed specifically for high value crystal and metalwork. Each component is individually secured, cushioned, and labeled to ensure safe international transit by air or sea. For monumental installations, we offer white glove logistics, including supervised unloading, on site inventory checks, and coordinated installation support. This end to end approach protects the integrity of every piece from our atelier to its final destination.

Yes. Bakalowits offers complete installation by our own specialist team, ensuring that every piece is mounted, aligned, and presented exactly as designed. For international projects, we also offer supervised installation, where we work alongside local teams under our direct guidance. Our service includes site assessment, structural and electrical coordination, professional assembly, safety checks, load testing, and final alignment.

All new Bakalowits pieces are engineered to meet current international electrical safety standards. For restorations, we always bring historical fixtures up to modern electrical compliance as a fundamental part of the process — no restored chandelier leaves our atelier without fully modernised, safe wiring and components.

All luminaires carry CE certification for the European market. For projects requiring US standards (UL/ETL) or other regional certifications, this is confirmed during the technical planning phase.

Yes. Every Bakalowits luminaire can be engineered for seamless integration with modern dimming systems and smart home controls. Our atelier works closely with project electricians to ensure compatibility with leading global standards, from DALI and TRIAC to advanced automation platforms. This allows our chandeliers—historic or contemporary—to perform with the same refinement as their craftsmanship suggests, offering precise light modulation without compromising the integrity of the design.

We do. For complex installations, heritage restorations, or large scale architectural projects, our specialists conduct on site assessments worldwide. These visits allow us to evaluate ceiling structure, electrical conditions, spatial proportions, and installation logistics. This meticulous preparation ensures that each chandelier—whether a contemporary commission or a historical reconstruction—is installed with absolute precision and long term stability.

This varies considerably by size and materials. A smaller residential piece may weigh 5–30 kg, while large-scale hospitality commissions can exceed 200 kg or more. For every project, we provide full technical documentation including precise weight specifications, so structural engineers and project managers can plan ceiling reinforcement accordingly.

Requirements depend on the specific fixture. We provide complete technical drawings, load specifications, and mounting diagrams for every commission before production begins. For large-scale projects in hotels, palaces, or public buildings, we work directly with the structural engineer or architect on site to ensure the ceiling structure meets all necessary requirements. Our installation team has extensive experience with complex ceiling situations worldwide.

Our standard chandeliers are designed for interior use in dry or humidity-controlled environments. For specific applications — such as covered terraces, spa environments, or semi-outdoor spaces — we can engineer fixtures to meet the required IP protection class as part of the bespoke commission process.

Yes. As we work with clients across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, our lighting is engineered to meet the electrical standards of the destination country. Voltage, frequency, and socket compatibility are confirmed during the technical planning phase of every project.

Yes. We supply full technical documentation for every project, including dimensional drawings, electrical schematics, mounting details, and installation instructions. This documentation is provided in the formats required by the project team.

Yes. All our fixtures are designed to accommodate contemporary LED light sources, and we recommend LED where the light quality and colour rendering meet our standards for the specific application. We advise on the appropriate LED specification for each commission to ensure the crystal and metalwork are shown to their best advantage.

We provide a tailored care manual for every piece we create, covering handling recommendations, approved cleaning methods, and bulb replacement guidance. We recommend light cleaning every three to six months and a thorough professional cleaning every one to two years. We strongly advise against spray-on cleaning foams — gentle manual cleaning with appropriate solutions preserves the crystal’s brilliance. Our team is also available for on-site professional cleaning services.

Yes — our Restoration Atelier is one of the most experienced in the world. We restore chandeliers from any era, whether Baroque, Empire, Art Deco, or mid-century modern. Services include full rewiring and electrical modernisation, structural repair, metal refinishing, crystal and glass restoration, surface treatment, and mechanical refurbishment. We can even recreate missing or damaged components using original moulding techniques and our extensive archives.

Yes. While we naturally have deep expertise with our own historical pieces — supported by our archive of over 10,000 original designs — our restoration team works on chandeliers from any manufacturer and any period. Simply send us photographs of the piece via email or bring it personally to our showroom Gumpendorferstraße 32, 1060 Vienna for an initial assessment. We typically respond within one to two business days.

Yes — and this is a significant advantage of working with a manufacturer rather than a distributor. We retain production records for every piece we make, and individual crystals, metalwork components, or electrical elements can be reproduced and replaced. This repairability is central to why Bakalowits pieces remain in use for decades or longer.

Yes. For on-going maintenance — particularly relevant for large hotel or public building installations — we offer service agreements that include periodic professional cleaning, inspection, and replacement of components as needed. We consider this a long-term partnership, not a one-time transaction.

Bakalowits was founded in 1845 by Elias Bakalowits, who walked to Vienna from Vukovar with 200 gulden and a hand-painted sign. Today, we are in our fifth generation of family ownership — making us one of the oldest continuously operating lighting manufacturers in the world. Over 180 years of heritage inform every piece we create.

Yes, absolutely. Bakalowits has been family-owned and family-operated since 1845 — five generations without interruption. Today, Maximilian Bakalowits leads the creative direction and design studio, while Mag. Sophie Bakalowits oversees the workshops and production. This unbroken continuity means our standards, our craftsmanship, and our values have never been compromised by outside interests.

Every Bakalowits chandelier is designed, engineered, handcrafted, and assembled entirely in our Vienna atelier at Sturzgasse 1A, 1140 Vienna. We do not outsource production. Our workshops for steel, brass, glass, crystal, and surface finishing are all under one roof — a level of vertical integration that is exceptionally rare in the luxury lighting industry.

Our archive contains over 10,000 original designs spanning 180 years of production — from Historism, Gothic, Baroque and Jugendstil through Art Deco to Contemporary and Modern creations. This is one of the most extensive lighting archives in existence. Every design is preserved and available for recreation, reinterpretation, or inspiration. Clients can draw from this vast library for bespoke commissions, and our restoration team uses it to faithfully reproduce missing elements.

K.u.K. Hoflieferant — Kaiserlicher und Königlicher Hoflieferant — means Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Austro-Hungarian Court. This was the highest distinction a company could receive, granted only to those meeting the most exacting standards of quality and craftsmanship. Bakalowits received this honour under Ludwig Bakalowits, who supplied and illuminated the Neue Hofburg with the first electrified chandeliers of the empire. It is a trust signal that speaks to our heritage of excellence.

Among our most celebrated commissions: the world’s largest chandelier for the Parliament of Belgrade (17 metres in diameter), the illumination of the Neue Hofburg in Vienna, the restoration of the Vienna Opera House’s Gobelin Hall, and the landmark restoration of the Palais Beauharnais in Paris, which set international conservation standards. We have also created lighting for countless palaces, luxury hotels, concert halls, and private residences worldwide.

Bakalowits played an important role in the Vienna Secession movement. Under Ludwig Bakalowits in the late 19th and early 20th century, the company collaborated closely with leading Secession artists including Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Joseph Olbrich. These partnerships produced ground-breaking designs that merged fine art with functional lighting — a philosophy that remains central to our work today.

What truly sets Bakalowits apart is our complete vertical integration: design, engineering, production, installation, maintenance, and restoration — all under one roof in Vienna, all within one family for five generations. While many luxury lighting brands outsource production or specialise in only one aspect, Bakalowits controls the entire journey of every piece. Combined with our archive of 10,000+ designs and our heritage as K.u.K. Hoflieferant, this makes us uniquely positioned in the global luxury lighting market.

Yes, we welcome visits to our atelier at Sturzgasse 1A in Vienna’s 14th district. Here you can experience our workshops, explore our collections, and discuss your project directly with our design and engineering teams. We recommend contacting us in advance to arrange an appointment so we can dedicate our full attention to your visit.

Collaboration with architects and designers is fundamental to our work. Our Technical Engineering department integrates seamlessly with architectural teams, offering BIM and CAD (Inventor) support, structural feasibility assessments, material engineering, custom mounting concepts, and prototyping. We see ourselves as creative partners, not merely suppliers — working together from concept through to installation.

You can call, email or reach us directly at our Vienna Showroom Bakalowits Licht Design GmbH, Gumpendorferstraße 32, 1060 Vienna, Austria. Whether you have a specific commission in mind or simply wish to explore possibilities, our team is ready to discuss your vision. We typically respond to enquiries within one to two business days.

Yes. Bakalowits offers a curated digital portfolio showcasing selected chandeliers, architectural installations, and archival designs. Because many of our projects are bespoke or confidential, our catalogue is intentionally selective—designed to inspire rather than overwhelm. For architects, interior designers, and project developers, we provide tailored presentations and technical documentation upon request, ensuring you receive material relevant to your specific vision and requirements.

Each Bakalowits chandelier is covered by a comprehensive warranty that reflects our commitment to enduring craftsmanship. In accordance with EU standards, all luminaires include a 2 year warranty, which also applies to material integrity when used and maintained properly. We guarantee the quality of our materials, the precision of our engineering, and the reliability of our electrical components. Should any issue arise, our Client Services team provides dedicated support, including assessment, repair coordination, and access to original atelier expertise. For bespoke commissions and large scale installations, extended warranty options are available upon request.

Yes. We have longstanding relationships with FF&E consultants and procurement specialists on international hospitality and residential projects. We are experienced in working within the procurement structures of large projects and can provide all necessary technical and commercial documentation required by these processes.

Yes. We have produced bespoke lighting for private yachts and superyachts, where the challenges differ significantly from land-based installations. We account for structural vibration, weight distribution, salt-air corrosion resistance, and the specific electrical systems typical of marine vessels. These projects require close collaboration with the yacht's naval architect and outfitter from the earliest design stage.

Weight is paramount — every kilogram affects the vessel's balance and stability. We engineer marine commissions to achieve the visual presence of larger pieces at significantly reduced weight, using refined material combinations. Vibration resistance and corrosion-resistant finishes are standard for all marine work.

Antique and vintage Bakalowits pieces regularly appear at international auction houses and specialist dealers, often at multiples of their original price. As one of the few remaining family-owned luxury lighting manufacturers still producing by hand in Vienna, the scarcity and provenance of our work supports long-term value. A bespoke commission, by definition, is unique and cannot be replicated on the secondary market.

Yes. Original Bakalowits pieces — both vintage and contemporary — are actively traded through specialist dealers and auction houses (for example: 1stDibs, Dorotheum, etc.). We recommend retaining the original documentation and provenance records that accompany every commission, as these support value on the secondary market.