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.
$15,003
H 27.56 in W 84.65 in D 84.65 in
Blob Modular Sofa by Carlo Bartoli, Italy, 1970s - New Upholstery
By Carlo Bartoli
Located in Brussels, BE
Blob Modular Sofa by Carlo Bartoli, Italy, 1970s - New Upholstery
Fabric
$27,064
H 30.32 in W 157.49 in D 38.19 in
Mid-Century Modern Pagru Modular Sofa by Claudio Vagnoni for 1P, Italy, 1960s
By Claudio Vagnoni
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Pagru' Modular sofa by Claudio Vagnoni for 1P, Italy, 1960s.
Fabric
$4,118 / set
H 23.63 in W 82.68 in D 31.5 in
Complete Living Room Sofa and Armchairs Design Sergio Asti for Poltronova, 1962
By Sergio Asti, Poltronova
Located in taranto, IT
Designed by Sergio Asti and produced by Poltronova in 1962, the "Zelda" living room set—comprising a three-seater sofa and a pair of armchairs—is one of the finest expressions of Ita...
Leather, Wood
$8,472 / set
H 25.2 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Mid-Century Modular Sofa Serie Deca by Tito Agnoli for Arflex, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Modular Sofa Serie Deca by Tito Agnoli for Arflex, Italy, 1960s - New Upholstery Corner dimension : 90 x 90 x 64h cm Armchair : 70 x 90 x 64h cm
Fabric
Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Roche Bobois, France, 2003
By Vladimir Kagan, Roche Bobois
Located in Antwerp, BE
This "Comete" sofa, a futurist and asymmetric marvel designed by Vladimir Kagan for Roche Bobois in 2003, redefines modern elegance and luxurious comfort. It features two large secti...
Wool, Alpaca, Cotton
$12,500
H 27.56 in W 147.64 in D 35.44 in
Mid-Century Italian Modular Lounge Sofa in New Bouclé, 1970s, Set of 5 Elements
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Italian Modular Lounge Sofa in New Bouclé, 1970s, Set of 5 Elements A stunning example of Italian mid-century modern design, this five-piece modular lounge sofa from the...
Upholstery, Beech
$6,707 / set
H 28.75 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Mid-Century Modern Modular Sofa, Italy, 1970s - New Upholstery
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Modular Sofa, Italy, 1970s - New Upholstery Dimensions for 1 element :80 cm w x 85 cm d x 73 cm h 37 cm sh
Metal
1970s Modular Lounge Sofa by Giuseppe Munari for Poltronova
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
Giuseppe Munari for Poltronona – Modular Lounge Sofa, Italy, 1970s Velvet, leather, fabric, chrome-plated steel – The refined modular icon Step into the quietly confident world of 1...
Steel, Chrome
$19,253
H 23.23 in W 118.9 in D 98.82 in
Original Lara Sofa by Pamio, Toso and Massari for Stilwood, Italy, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso, Stilwood, Mario Bellini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original Lara sofa by Roberto Pamio, Renato Toso and Noti Massari for Stilwood, Italy 1950s/1960s. Newly reupholstered in a premium, pure Alpaca wool fabric. Ships worldwide.
Foam
$33,536
H 23.63 in W 90.56 in D 39.38 in L 23.63 in
Rare Environ Tre Sculptural Sofa by Edoardo Landi, Gruppo N, Nikol, Italy 1971
By Ennio Chiggio, Edoardo Landi
Located in Den Haag, NL
Rare Sculptural sofa by Edoardo Landi for Nikol Internazionale, Italy 1971 With this sofa you not only get comfort in your home, but also a great work of Art. The sofa creates a shell-like environment that cocoons the sitter. With your own imagination, the sofa can be set up in different ways. This sofa would look beautiful in a Mohair or bouclé Fabric Each sofa is 230 cm in length, 100cm width, the hight is 60cm, seat height 35cm. When setup like a corner 230cmx330cm Born in Modena in 1937, Italy, Landi studied architecture in Venice and attends the School of Industrial Design in Venice between 1962 and 1964. In 1959, he founds Group N with Alberto Biasi, Manfredo Massironi, Toni Costa and Ennio Chiggio. Landi’s work is based on the use of geometric shapes with programmed inclinations or separations, through which he manages changes in the viewer's perception. The artist develops retinal fatigue and optical illusions in some of his works, causing a closer relationship between the viewer and the work. In 1963, he participates with Grupo N at the IV Biennale Internazionale d'Arte di San Marino, where they receive their first prize. Since 1968, his works have been present in international exhibitions in Rome, Oslo, Tokyo, Budapest, Bologna, Paris, Milan and other cities. Since 1971 he has been interested in graphic design and the use of Industrial objects in interior design. Often this sofa is sold as an Ennio Chiggio sofa but is not from his hand, however the sofa was produced by Nikol wich Chiggio also designed for. They were also both a member of the art movement Gruppo N...
Fabric, Foam
Florence Knoll International 4-seater sofa leather
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Telgte, DE
Exceptional, balanced design Manufacturer: Knoll International Design: Florence Knoll Florence Knoll transferred the principles of the architecture of her time to the design of fur...
Steel
Set of Two Lounge Chairs GN2 by Peter Ghyczy for Reuter´s Form + Life Collection
By Peter Ghyczy, Form + Life Collection
Located in Telgte, DE
Set of two lounge chairs GN2 by Peter Ghyczy for Reuter´s Form + Life Collection, 1970s The chairs are made of one piece and consist of moulded fiberglass. The chairs are suitable fo...
Fiberglass
Set of Four Velvet Armchairs by Miller Borgsen Röder & Söhne
By Röder & Söhne
Located in Telgte, DE
Set of four velvet armchairs by Miller Borgsen Röder & Söhne Very good original condition. Cover in dark blue velvet. The armchairs are very comfortable! Design Miller Borgsen for Rö...
Velvet
Glass Chrome Coffee Side Cocktail Couch Table, 1960s
Located in Telgte, DE
Glass chrome coffee side cocktail couch table, 1960s Elegant French Space Age glass table.
Steel, Chrome
Charles Ray Eames Marble Coffee Side Table Aluminium Group Couch Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Telgte, DE
Charles Ray Eames marble coffee side table Aluminium Group couch table An Eames Aluminum Group couch table with original marble top and an old four-foot ...
Marble, Aluminum, Steel
6x Saarinen Chairs Conference Side Chair 72 U Knoll International Kvadrat fabric
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Telgte, DE
Six exclusive Saarinen chairs from Knoll International - a design classic (without table, lamps, sofa and decoration) Model: Side Chair 72 U Design: Eero Saarinen Manufacturer: Knol...
Chrome
