While the Rosenthal Porcelain Factory grew from humble decorating roots — as many pottery companies do — it eventually built a list of universally revered designer and artist partners that included Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. And after securing an enviable position as a top manufacturer of serveware and dominating the porcelain and bone china markets, Rosenthal expanded into furniture production, working with influential designers Verner Panton, Luigi Colani and Günther Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf.
German-born Jewish businessman Philipp Rosenthal founded the company in 1879 in Bavaria. It began as his modest workshop where he painted porcelain and encountered success with porcelain ashtrays. Rosenthal hired the best designers and clay modelers he could find. Adolf Oppel designed figurative Art Nouveau pieces, while Eleonore (Lore) Friedrich-Gronau produced decorative objects, namely her graceful porcelain dancer figurines, for the company.
Dinnerware, though, would be a Rosenthal mainstay. Between 1904 and 1910, Rosenthal produced its renowned dinnerware lines such as Donatello, Darmstadt and Isolde. These were introduced as unornamented white pieces — only later were they given their underglaze designs.
Rosenthal founder Philipp, a Catholic of Jewish ancestry, resigned in 1934 as the company’s president due to pressures owing to discriminatory German laws that took shape during the rise of the Nazi regime. Rosenthal died in 1937, and the family fled to America. The company would not regain its footing until 1950 when Rosenthal’s son, Philip, joined the firm and, in 1958, became chairman and dubbed Germany’s “China King.” At its peak, the company had 10,000 employees.
In the 1950s, Rosenthal’s modernist dinnerware was a significant part of the brand’s offerings, and by 1961 they introduced the famed Rosenthal Studio Line. Although furniture designers and ceramicists would lead the list of individuals working with Rosenthal — among them Tapio Wirkkala, Max Weber and Lisa Larson — the company eventually reached out to fine artists, not only Dalí and Warhol but Sandro Chia and Kenny Scharf. Rosenthal also collaborated with fashion designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace.
In a daring move in 1972, the company diversified into furniture, collaborating with some of the giants of mid-century modern design. The revolutionary Sunball chair, an icon of Space Age seating crafted by Selldorf and Ris, was among Rosenthal’s stellar successes in this venture.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Rosenthal ceramics, porcelain, tableware, seating and more.
Rosenthal Studio-Line Porcelaine Noire Plissée Vase Pair by Martin Freyer
By Rosenthal, Martin Freyer
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of matte black bisque porcelain vases from the “Plissée” series, designed by Martin Freyer for Rosenthal Studio-Line in 1968 and produced in Germany during the 1980s. The surfac...
Porcelain
Martin Freyer Plissé Porcelaine Noire Vase for Rosenthal, Germany, 1970s
By Martin Freyer, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Martin Freyer Plissé Porcelaine Noire vase for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany, 1970s. This sculptural black porcelain vase is part of Rosenthal’s celebrated Studio-Line production an...
Porcelain
Martin Freyer Porcelaine Noire Vase Pair for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Martin Freyer
Located in Berlin, DE
Curated pair of Porcelaine Noire vases designed by Martin Freyer for Rosenthal Studio-Line. One is tall and narrow; the lower vase is covered with a dense, wave-like relief. Matte bl...
Porcelain, Bisque
Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Studio-Line Black and White Porcelain Vase Pair
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Berlin, DE
Curated pair of black and white porcelain vases designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio-Line. The pairing brings together two periods of production: a black vase from the 198...
Porcelain
Martin Freyer Kaskade Black Bisque Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Martin Freyer, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Matte black Kaskade vase designed by Martin Freyer for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Kaskade is German for “cascade,” referring to the flowing vertical ridges that descend across its asymme...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Porcelaine Noire Vase and Ashtray, Rosenthal, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Berlin, DE
Pairing of Tapio Wirkkala’s Model 7156 vase and coordinating ashtray in black Porcelaine Noire for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Rounded glossy bodies contrast with finely ringed matte surf...
Porcelain, Bisque
Set of Three German Vintage Textured Porcelain Vases
By Martin Freyer, Bareuther Waldsassen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of Three German Vintage Textured Porcelain Vases Tall White - Royal Porzeilan - Bavaria Germany - ( 3.5" x 12") Short White - Bareuther Waldsass...
Porcelain
Set of 3 Studio Ceramic Vases by Wilhelm & Elly Kuch, 1960s, Germany
By Wilhelm & Elly Kuch
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Huge Studio Ceramics Floor Vase from Wilhelm & Elly Kuch, 1960s Germany. Very good condition. Three different sizes. 1. height 15cm - diameter 11cm. 2. height 22cm - diameter 13cm. 3. height 27cm - diameter 15cm. Wilhelm Kuch, born 1925, 1947 apprenticeship - Gusso Reuss in Munich - 1948 opened the studio in Burgthann - 1953 became master potter Elly Kuch, born 1929 died 2008 1946-49 apprenticeship in several studios - 1949-51 second apprenticeship as a goldsmith - 1951 marriage with Wilhelm Kuch 1953 the Kuchs started to worked together in their workshop in Burgthann Their work like this Vase have received many honors: 1965 Gold Medal premio faenza, Italy 1965 prize of the „deutschen keramischen gesellschaft“ 1966 Gold Medal (premio faenza) , Italy 1967 Gold Medal (academie internationale de la ceramique) turkey 1968 prized again in faenza, Italy Gold Medal (premio pineta) cervia, Italy grand prix biennale ceramiche artistiche in Vallauris; grand prix des rates alpes maritimes became members of the academie internationale de la ceramique, gent Belgium 1969 Gold Medal (premio faenza) Italy 1970 international pottery symposium bechyné, Czech republic 1971 Gold Medal (premio faenza) Italy 1973 Gold Medal (premio faenza) Italy internationalceramics symposium Memphis, USA Gold Medal ceramics international in Alberta, Canada 1975 westerwaldpreis höhr Grenzhausen Germany 1982 founder member 'gruppe 83' together with other important potters like Dieter Crumbiegel...
Ceramic
Mid-century set of 3 black bucchero ceramic vases, Sebastiani Gubbio Italy 1960s
Located in Firenze, IT
Midcentury set of 3 black bucchero ceramic vases Sebastiani Gubbio Italy 1960s H: 35.5 cm - 8 cm diam. H: 32 cm - 12 cm diam. H: 22 cm - 17 cm diam. Signed on the base The blac...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Black Vases Set by Carl-Harry Stålhane
By Rörstrand, Carl-Harry Stålhane
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This is a set of 3 pieces of black vases made in Sweden during the 1950s. The exceptional large vase from Rörstrand and maker or designer Carl Harry Stålhane, was made in Sweden in t...
Ceramic
Joep Felder Set of 3 Midcentury Studio Pottery Works, 1950s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joep Felder Set of 3 midcentury Studio Pottery pieces, The Netherlands, 1950s. Beautiful and rare set of midcentury Studio Pottery items by pottery artist...
Ceramic
Black Midcentury Stoneware set of 5 "Mangania" Vases by Lillemor Mannerheim
By Lillemor Mannerheim
Located in Bromma, SE
Set of five vases by Swedish Lillemor Mannerheim. Midcentury stoneware in organic shape with black glaze. It was designed in 1955 as part of the Mangania series. The Mid-Century Ston...
Stoneware
