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.
Set for 8 EKCO Eterna "Canoe Muffin" Mid-Century Danish Modern Flatware - 1960s
By EKCO
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic Danish influenced Mid-Century sleek modernist designed stainless flatware / silverware set & serving pieces designed and sold by EKCO Products International and produced in Japan, circa 1960s. This set is from the EKCO Eterna...
Stainless Steel
Georg Jensen Denmark "Ornamental" #83 Pattern Sterling Silver Serving Knife
By Georg Jensen
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare Georg Jensen solid Sterling server in the rare pattern number 83. This wonderful piece was designed in 1913 by Georg Jensen and is part of the Jensen Silversmith collection of r...
Sterling Silver
1980s Gunnar Cyrén for Dansk "Summerhouse" Green Resin Flatware Set (21 Pieces)
By Dansk, Gunnar Cyren
Located in St. Louis, MO
A striking 21-piece set of vintage Dansk "Summerhouse" flatware in vibrant kelly green, designed by acclaimed Swedish silversmith and industrial designer Gunnar Cyrén in the 1980s. Blending Scandinavian functionalism with playful Postmodern aesthetics, this iconic pattern features smooth, rounded composite/resin handles paired with high-grade stainless steel heads. The set includes place settings for 6 (dinner knives and dinner forks, with 5 teaspoons—short just 1 spoon) along with four original large serving utensils. Cyrén was one of Dansk’s most prominent head designers during the 1970s and 1980s (following in the footsteps of Jens Quistgaard) Set Includes (21 Pieces Total): 6 Dinner Knives (8.25" L) 6 Dinner Forks (7.75" L) 5 Teaspoons (6.25" L) (Missing 1) 2 Large Serving Spoons (8.75" L) 2 Large Serving Forks (8.75" L) Gunnar Cyren, Dansk Summerhouse, Dansk Green Flatware, Swedish Designer Silverware, Postmodern Flatware, 1980s Dansk Cutlery, Kelly Green Resin, Dansk Service for 6, Scandinavian Modern Tableware, Dansk Serving Spoons
Stainless Steel
Georg Jensen Denmark "Acorn" #62 pattern Sterling / Stainless Sauce Gravy Ladle
By Johan Rohde, Georg Jensen
Located in St. Louis, MO
A Georg Jensen with sterling silver handle and stainless steel spoon, item 154 in the Acorn Pattern, design #62 by Johan Rohde from 1915. This type of ladle with steel is for improve...
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths Nickel-Plated Coffee or Tea Set
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in St. Louis, MO
A coffee or tea serving set designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths. This set is made of heavy brass, and has been newly plated in a nickel finish. It consists of a pitch...
Brass
LAUFFER set of 32 "Design 10" 1978 Yellow Lexan Plastic Flatware by Don Wallance
By Lauffer, Don Wallance
Located in St. Louis, MO
Set of Post Modern Flatware made of yellow colored Lexan designed by Don Wallance for Lauffer. Part of his Design 10 collection 1978-1979, made in the USA. Flatware is constructed ...
Resin, Plastic
Kongo #32 by Evald Nielsen Danish 830 Silver Flatware Set Art Deco 78 Pcs Rare
By Evald Nielsen
Located in Big Bend, WI
Evald Nielsen, long-standing master of the Goldsmith's Guild of Copenhagen and one of the leading men behind the organizing of the Danish gold and silversmiths. Contrary to Georg Jensen Evald Nielsen based his firm on his own design and only to a small extent used artists and architects as designers. In the 1930s his son Aage Weimar was attached to the firm, he worked in design, and he took part in bringing Evald Nielsen into the Art Deco style. The pattern "Kongo" was designed by his son, Aage Weimar. Rare Kongo #32 by Evald Nielsen Danish 830 silver flatware set of 78 pieces. This set includes: Six dinner knives, (4- 8 5/8", 2- 8 7/8"). Six dinner forks, 8 1/8". Six small teaspoons, 5 1/4". Seven dessert spoons, 6 3/4". Six fruit knives, 6 7/8". Six demitasse spoons, 4 1/2". Seven dessert forks, 6 7/8". Six dessert knives, 7 7/8". Six pastry forks, three-tine, 5 5/8". Three dinner spoons, 8". Two cold cut forks, three-tine, 5 7/8". One vegetable serving spoon, ovoid, large, 10 5/8". One berry spoon, 9 3/8". One berry spoon, small, 7 7/8". Two gravy ladles, 6 7/8". One pea spoon, large wide bowl...
Silver
Patricia by W & S Sorensen Danish Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 37 Pcs
By W. & S. Sorensen
Located in Big Bend, WI
Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Patricia by W&S Sorensen Danish sterling silver flatware set - 37 pieces. This set includes: Six dinner knives, 8 3/4", six dinner forks...
Sterling Silver
Celeste by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 36 Pcs Mid Century Mod
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
In the mid to late 1950's "space age silver" was all the rage. In 1957, the year of Sputnik, star-studded sterling flatware was continuing to be designed and released, which continued all through the 60's. President Kennedy's mission in 1961 to reach the moon culminated the successful voyage of the Apollo 11 spacecraft in 1969. It was an exciting time in space...
Sterling Silver
Tropic AKA #37 by Evald Nielsen Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 48 Pcs
By Evald Nielsen
Located in Big Bend, WI
Rare tropic AKA #37 by Evald Nielsen Danish sterling silver art deco flatware set - 48 pieces. This pattern was designed by Evald Nielsen's oldest son, silversmith Aage Weimar. This ...
Sterling Silver
Celeste Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 61 pcs Mid Century Modern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
In the mid to late 1950's "space age silver" was all the rage. In 1957, the year of Sputnik, star-studded sterling flatware was continuing to be designed and released, which continue...
Sterling Silver
Southwind by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 85 Pieces
By Towle Silversmiths
Located in Big Bend, WI
Superb Southwind by Towle sterling silver flatware set of 85 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 8 7/8". 12 forks, 7 1/2". 12 salad forks, 6 5/8"...
Sterling Silver
