Skip to main content

Rosenthal Clocks

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.

to
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
2
2
2
313
73
53
46
38
Creator: Rosenthal
Rosenthal Jugendstil Porcelain Clock with the Goddess Diana (Artemis) the Hunter
By Rosenthal, Karl Himmelstoss
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Jugendstil porcelain clock. By Rosenthal. In blanc de chine porcelain with gilt accents throughout and a gold washed clock face. Perched atop the clock is the Godde...
Category

20th Century German Jugendstil Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Postmodern Procelain Clock by Marcello Morandini for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic porcelain desk or table clock by Italian designer Marcello Morandini for German ceramics powerhouse Rosenthal for their designer-focused Studio Line. Black and white gra...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Related Items
Sèvres Porcelain with Doré Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sèvres Porcelain with doré bronze clock. Clock is not running.
Category

19th Century French Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Sèvres Porcelain with Doré Bronze Clock
Sèvres Porcelain with Doré Bronze Clock
$7,200
H 14 in W 19 in D 4.5 in
Tapio Wirkkala Pollo Vase for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in San Francisco, CA
Tapio Wirkkala design Pollo vase for Rosenthal Studio Line, Germany. Rare larger size vase or vessel seldom seen compared with the much smaller common model. A wonderful object or v...
Category

1970s German Scandinavian Modern Vintage Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

Porcelain Clock in the Louis XV Style by Jacob Petit
By Jacob Petit
Located in London, GB
This antique porcelain mantel clock demonstrates the 19th century nostalgia for the delicately elegant decorative arts under King Louis XV, also known as the Rococo style. Crafted by celebrated porcelain artist Jacob Petit, this exquisite clock is particularly notable for the way in which the porcelain has been shaped so as to give the clock such a whimsically free-spirited, scrolling shape. The clock is formed as a clock case upon a lower base, which are both decorated as a though a singular piece with green glaze on a white ground, accented with painted floral panels and extensive gilt highlights all over. The clock case, which is particularly exuberant in design, features a central, circular clock dial. The white enamelled dial is bordered with beaded ormolu, and features black Roman numerals and the inscription 'Scherer'- the name of the 19th century Parisian clock...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain Clock in the Louis XV Style by Jacob Petit
Porcelain Clock in the Louis XV Style by Jacob Petit
$4,965 Sale Price
20% Off
H 14.97 in W 9.85 in D 7.09 in
Rare Vienna Porcelain Boudoir Clock
By Royal Vienna Porcelain
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful Royal Vienna type porcelain boudoir clock featuring a classical maiden seated on a rock. She is holding a dove and is surrounded by delicate ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Vienna Porcelain Boudoir Clock
Rare Vienna Porcelain Boudoir Clock
$3,379
H 8.75 in W 6.5 in D 3 in
Small Clock with Elephants
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Desk clock with elephants, early 20th century, Art Nouveau. Measures: H: 16 cm, W: 21 cm, D: 8 cm.
Category

1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Metal

Small Clock with Elephants
Small Clock with Elephants
$1,674
H 8.27 in W 6.3 in D 3.15 in
German Meissen Porcelain Clock
Located in Queens, NY
German Meissen (19th Century) porcelain group of men and women with floral and bronze branches around mantel clock (not working)
Category

19th Century German Neoclassical Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Bronze

German Meissen Porcelain Clock
German Meissen Porcelain Clock
$7,500
H 16 in W 10 in D 7 in
A French Empire Clock of the Roman Goddess Aurora Announcing a New Day
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire allegorical mantel clock with a case of finely chased and gilt bronze. Aurora stands to the left of the circular clock plinth draping a starry cloak over the g...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Bronze

A French Empire Clock of the Roman Goddess Aurora Announcing a New Day
A French Empire Clock of the Roman Goddess Aurora Announcing a New Day
$5,200 Sale Price
20% Off
H 17.5 in W 15.5 in D 5.5 in
Empire Gilt-Bronze Clock Depicting Diana the Huntress. French, c 1820
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire Period gilt bronze clock depicting Diana the huntress. The dial signed 'Thomas a Paris'. The white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Breguet hands, the case sur...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Pollo Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Porcelin Pollo Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line.
Category

1970s German Scandinavian Modern Vintage Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
$24,828 / set
H 23.63 in W 10.24 in D 8.67 in
French Victorian Gilt Broze Hunter and Dog Mantel Clock
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian (mid-19th Century) gilt bronze mantel clock featuring a hunter feeding his dog as they sit atop a bronze log which houses a gilt bronze clo...
Category

19th Century French Victorian Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Bronze

French Decorative Porcelain Clock Garniture
By A.D. Mougin
Located in Norwich, GB
French Decorative Porcelain Clock Garniture French mantel clock housed in an arch top porcelain case, beautifully decorated to all sides with flower applied relief resting on a da...
Category

1890s French Antique Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

French Decorative Porcelain Clock Garniture
French Decorative Porcelain Clock Garniture
$4,827
H 7.5 in W 6.25 in D 4.5 in
Previously Available Items
Design Clock "Tempo Nero" By Lino Sabattini, For Rosenthal, 1988
By Rosenthal, Lino Sabattini
Located in Greven, DE
This unique table clock, called "Tempo nero" by Rosenthal, was designed by the Italian artist Lino Sabattini in 1988. Signed "Lino Sabattini" and stamped "Rosenthal Germany" on the s...
Category

20th Century Italian Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

1980s Versace Medusa Desk Clock by Rosenthal in Lumiere Crystal Glass
By Rosenthal, Versace
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Desk Clock Vintage 1980s Versace Medusa Rosenthal Germany Lumiere Crystal Glass Roman Pillar Sculpture Desk Clock Exquisite crystal glass heav...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Crystal

Rare Ceramic Clock Designed by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal Signed Memphis Era
By Rosenthal, Lino Sabattini
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible hard to find piece design by Lino Sabattini, circa 1980s in black mate porcelain finish, stamped at the bottom no chips or cracks.
Category

Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Rosenthal Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

Rosenthal clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Rosenthal clocks are available for sale on 1stDibs.
Questions About Rosenthal Clocks
  • 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.
  • 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.

Recently Viewed

View All