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Rosenthal Furniture

German

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.

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Creator: Rosenthal
Dealer: DEKOLET
Mid-Century Modern Bjorn Wiinblad Rosenthal Lidded Box, Quatre Couleurs
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bjorn Wiinblad Porcelain box, Quatre Couleurs, designed for Rosenthal, Germany, 1981 A white porcelain lidded box, decorated with a liquid gold painted motif, in four shades of gold....
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Bjorn Wiinblad Studio Line Rosenthal Germany - FREE SHIPPING
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Rosenthal Studio-linie 'Arundo' vase by Bjorn Wiinblad, Germany 1986 - German porcelain. Signed Björn Winblad on the wall, makers mark on the bottom. A cute little vase of exceptiona...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rosenthal Porcelain Hands, Germany, 1950s
By Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Rosenthal Porcelain hands, Germany, 1950s. Pair of hard to find original German white glazed porcelain molds for the making of latex gloves. They were immersed in vats of bubbling li...
Category

1950s German Industrial Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Porcelain Wide Mouth Vase, Western Germany, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Bochum, NRW
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Germany Wide mouthed vase in white porcelain, ribbed rim, hand painted with fine thin gold lines. Very good used conditi...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

German Porcelain Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Bochum, NRW
A tall, ovoid shaped white porcelain vase designed in 1970 by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line ‘Drops’ pattern as the tactile design on its exterior has raised dots, like rai...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Victor Vasarely Rosenthal Studio Line Limited Edition Porcelain Plate
By Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Victor Vasarely Rosenthal Studio Line, limited edition of 5000 pieces, no.: 4020, in unused, flawless condition. Rosenthal artist plate No. 13 - "Live and let live...
Category

1970s European Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rosenthal Studio-Linie Frosted Crystal Bowl
By Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Very elegant Rosenthal Studio-Linie scalloped crystal bowl. Frosted up to mid, clear up to top, maker's mark on upper rim, Rosenthal Studio-Linie and ...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Mid-Century Modern Rosenthal Björn Wiinblad Porcelain Noire Vase
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Wonderful black porcelain richly decorated with gold hand painting, designed by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, circa 1970s. Cushion shaped, this vase will make the focus point in you...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio Line, Porcelain Vide-Poche
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal studio-line, gold painting over a light green background, Germany 1970s Marked to the bottom. In perfect condition. Dimensions: Diameter 25 cm [9.9 in.] ...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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Set of 2 Original 1977 Tapio Wirkkala ''Paper Bag'' Vases Brown White, Rosenthal
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Design vintage classic by Tapio for the ''Studio-Line'' Rosenthal, Germany. Set of 2 so called ''Paper Bag'' vases, the brown one an original of the time, 1977 approx.. It comes with...
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Rosenthal Paper bag vase by Tapio Wirkkala , 1970’s
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Pair of Tapio Wirkkala White Porcelain "Pollo" Vases for Rosenthal Studio Linie
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An amazing set of two midcentury studio art porcelain vases made in Germany, by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, circa 1980s. Vases are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, or ...
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Tapio Wirkkala Paper Bag Vase Brown Porcelain by Rosenthal Studio Line Germany
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
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This early brown paper bag shaped vase of the "Do not litter" collection designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal studio-line is an iconic piece of mid-century modern design. It was ...
Category

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Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelain Plate by Björn Wiinblad 'Limited Edition'
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
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Stunning wall plaque by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. The plaque was produced in 1975 in an edition of 5000, and this one is number 1328. The text on the plate is German ‘auch die...
Category

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Rosenthal Porcelain Figurine of a Huddling Penguin Pair
By Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine mid-century Rosenthal porcelain figurine. In the form of a pair of penguins huddling together with one another. Entitled "Pinguinpaar" (Penguin Pair), design no. 693. Designed by Karl Himmelstoss for Rosenthal. Marked to the base with a green Rosenthal maker's mark, two old Rosenthal labels, an A.S. Cooper & Sons Bermuda retail label. There is an impressed mark beneath one of the Rosenthal labels which is likely H.693 for the model number. Simply a wonderful Rosenthal penguin...
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20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Rosenthal Furniture

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Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Linie Black Porcelain Bird Pot
By Bjorn Wiinblad
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A finely made and stylish mid-century Rosenthal porcelain lidded jar decorated with birds amidst foliage designed by renowned Danish born artist Bjorn Wiinblad (1918-2006). The lidde...
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Porcelain

Victor Vasarely Op Art Framed Serigraph
By Victor Vasarely
Located in New York, NY
Op Art serigraph from Hungarian/French artist Victor Vasarely, signed in lower corner and numbered 32/250. The original work is professionally framed in a matte brushed aluminum frame.
Category

20th Century American Modern Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Paint

Ceramic Paper Bag Vase Designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Germany, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Barcelona, ES
Tapio Wirkkalas playful ceramic paper bag vase in Kraft brown color. Original 1970s edition.
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Turned Wood Hardwood Lidded Box Chess Figurine Style Mid Century Modern c 1960s
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A lovely small turned hardwood lidded box with a chess style shaped finial, made in Europe probably in the 1960s.
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1970s VASARELY "Live and let live love and let love" Rosenthal Framed Plate
By Rosenthal, Victor Vasarely
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1970s VICTOR VASARELY "Live and let live love and let love". Rosenthal collectible framed German plate. Victor Vasarely Rosenthal Studio Line Limited Edition Porcelain Plate. By Vasarely born 1936. "Leben und Leben lassen, Lieben und Lieben lassen" "Live and let live - love and let love". Limited edition, signed and numbered. Plate is in good condition, size is 12". Frame is not in good condition, white became yellowish shows wear. Victor Vasarely, born as Győző Vásárhelyi on April 9, 1906, in Pécs, Hungary, was a Hungarian-French artist widely regarded as the "father of Op Art" (Optical Art). He is known for his pioneering work in geometric abstraction and the use of optical illusions to create visually captivating and dynamic artworks. Vasarely's early career involved studying medicine in Budapest, but he later decided to pursue his passion for art and enrolled in the Műhely (Workshop) academy in Hungary. He initially experimented with various styles, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but his interest in geometric abstraction grew stronger over time. In the 1930s, Vasarely moved to Paris, where he continued to explore geometric patterns, lines, and shapes in his art. He believed that art should not merely imitate nature but should create its own language of forms and colors to engage the viewer's perception actively. This philosophy led to the development of Op Art, a movement that emerged in the 1960s and focused on creating optical illusions and visual effects through precise geometric patterns and colors. Vasarely's artworks often featured meticulously arranged geometric shapes, giving the impression of movement and three-dimensionality. He employed various optical tricks, such as the juxtaposition of contrasting colors and the use of repetition, to create an illusion of depth and visual dynamism. His artworks can evoke a sense of visual vibration and often challenge the viewer's perception. Throughout his career, Vasarely's influence extended beyond the art world. He believed in the democratization of art and wanted to make art accessible to a wider audience. He embraced mass production techniques, creating what he called "multiple originals" or "serigraphs" (a form of screen printing). These serigraphs allowed him to produce multiple copies of his artworks at affordable prices, making them more accessible to art enthusiasts. Vasarely's artistic legacy continues to be celebrated around the world. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums, and he remains an influential figure in the fields of Op Art and abstract geometric art. He passed away on March 15, 1997, in Paris, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to captivate audiences and inspire artists to this day. About Rosenthal: German porcelain manufactory Rosenthal was originally founded as a ceramics-painting studio by Philipp Rosenthal Sr. (1855-1937) in 1879 at Schloss Erkersreuth in Bavaria, near the Czech border. Its first highly popular product was an ashtray inscribed with the words “Resting place for lit cigars.” In 1890, the company moved to the neighboring hamlet of Selb and, a year later, began to manufacture its own porcelain, since white porcelain was, at that time, in short supply. Rosenthal’s first complete table service was called Empire; it was exhibited along with other lines at Paris’s Exposition Universelle in 1900. With the dawn of the 20th century, Rosenthal began producing porcelain tableware and services formed and decorated in the latest styles, like the Jugendstil Botticelli (1903), the Art Nouveau Darmstadt (1905), and the all-white Maria (1916) lines. Successes with this au courant approach led the company to launch an art pottery division in 1910, dedicated to luxury tableware, vases, and other decorative objects. By the 1930s, figurines were another important Rosenthal product, most notably the Disney-licensed Mickey Mouse pieces introduced in 1931. In 1934, Philipp Rosenthal was forced to leave his company and country when his Jewish ancestry came under persecution by the Nazi regime. Despite the loss of its founder, the Rosenthal company remained the premier supplier of high-quality porcelain tableware to the Third Reich. After the war, in 1950, Philip Rosenthal Jr. (1916-2001) joined his father's company as an advertising manager. By 1958, he had become its CEO, continuing his father’s vision to produce high-quality porcelain in line with progressive tastes. Through the rest of the 20th century, Rosenthal was the most commercially successful porcelain producer in Germany. In the postwar era, Rosenthal’s most famous tableware lines have included 2000 by Raymond Loewy and Richard Latham (1954), Magic Flute by Bjørn Wiinblad (1959), Suomi by Timo Sarpaneva (1976), and Moon by Jasper Morrison (1997). The company has enjoyed many popular and critically acclaimed collaborations with designers and brands, like Salvador Dalì, Tapio Wirkkala, Walter Gropius, Andy Warhol, Ron Arad, Enzo Mari, Konstantin Grcic, and Versace. Rosenthal's product lines have encompassed more than ceramics over the years. In 1972, the company began producing furniture, under the subsidiary Rosenthal Einrichtung, in Espelkamp, Germany. Standouts from this arm of Rosenthal include Gunter Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf’s futuristic Sunball Lounge Chair (1969), Verner Panton’s Relaxer Rocking Chair (1974), Burchard Vogtherr's Vario Pillo...
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Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Rosenthal Furniture

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Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe Rosenthal Studio Line Stacking Mug Set, FREE SHIPPING
By Rosenthal, (after) Andy Warhol
Located in Bochum, NRW
The Marilyn Monroe series in porcelain is taken from an original silkscreen by Andy Warhol and includes mugs with the iconic Marilyn face. Made by Rosenthal, Studio Line, this set of...
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Early 2000s German Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio Line, Porcelain Vide-Poche
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal studio-line, gold painting over a light green background, Germany 1970s Marked to the bottom. In perfect condition. Dimensions: Diameter 25 cm [9.9 in.] ...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century Modern Bjorn Wiinblad Rosenthal Porcelain Vessels, Quatre Couleurs
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-Century Modern Bjorn Wiinblad Rosenthal porcelain vessels, Quatre Couleurs. Set of three white porcelain vessels, comprising a vase, a lidded jar ...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century Modern Bjorn Wiinblad Rosenthal Lidded Box, Quatre Couleurs
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bjorn Wiinblad Porcelain box, Quatre Couleurs, designed for Rosenthal, Germany, 1981 A white porcelain lidded box, decorated with a liquid gold painte...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Rosenthal Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rosenthal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Rosenthal furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Rosenthal furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Rosenthal were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Lorenz Hutschenreuther, Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM), and Carstens Tönnieshof. Prices for Rosenthal furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $28 and can go as high as $60,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $547.

Creators Similar to Rosenthal

Questions About Rosenthal Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Rosenthal china is still being produced. Rosenthal was founded in 1979 in Germany with a passion for innovation and design with high-quality materials and hand-painted designs. Shop a collection of authentic Rosenthal goods on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To identify Rosenthal crystal, look for one of the company's maker's marks. The German crystal manufacturer changed their hallmark many times over the years, so you can use an authoritative online reference to determine an approximate manufacturing date. On 1stDibs, find a selection of expertly vetted Rosenthal crystal.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Rosenthal porcelain is made in factories in Selb and Speichersdorf, Germany. Notably, the head of the Bauhaus school, Walter Gropius, designed the factory in Selb. Philipp Rosenthal founded Rosenthal in 1879. On 1stDibs, you can find a selection of Rosenthal porcelain.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Sambonet Paderno Industrie S.p.A. owns Rosenthal china as of January 2022. The Italian company purchased the porcelain manufacturer in 2009. Philipp Rosenthal founded Rosenthal in 1879 in Selb, Bavaria, Germany. You'll find a variety of Rosenthal china on 1stDibs.

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