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 Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box
By Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Rosenthal Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box, circa 1980s. A beautifully crafted faceted crystal heart paperweight signed by the renowned German porcelain and g...
Crystal
Vintage Ashtrays and Lighter in Crystal by Rosenthal Studio Linie Design, 1970s
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Rosenthal
Located in taranto, IT
particular set consisting of a Ronson lighter and crystal ashtray, with an inclined shape, in the style of mangiarotti design measurements: the ashtr...
Crystal
Porcelain Jewelry Dish Rosenthal Studio-Line by Designer Raymond Peynet
By Rosenthal, Raymond Peynet
Located in New York, NY
A German white porcelain jewelry dish with whimsical design by designer Raymond Peynet for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Midcentury Modern period, circa mid-20th century, Germany. Dish show...
Porcelain
Porcelain Jewelry Dish by Rosenthal Animal Elephant Design
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German white porcelain jewelry dish with Elephant design by Rosenthal, circa 20th century, Germany. Dish is square with large elephant at c...
Porcelain
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Emilio Pucci & Hans Theo Baumann Porcelain Cig Vessel for Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Hans Theo Baumann, Emilio Pucci, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A small and beautiful Hans Theo Baumann and Emilio Pucci designed porcelain vessel for Rosenthal 'Studio-Linie', Berlin, circa late 20th century, Germany. Piece is a glazed white por...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Studio-Line Porcelain Jewelry Dish Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A small, beautiful, white and gold porcelain jewelry dish by Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Line porcelain, Germany, 20th century. With designer and marker's mar...
Porcelain
Gold Porcelain Dragon Jewelry Dishes by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, set of two (2) German white and gold oval porcelain jewelry dishes with dragon design, signed by designer, for Rosenthal, circa mid-20th century, Germany. Dishes are sig...
Porcelain
$260Sale Price|20% Off
German Green and Gold Jewelry Dish by Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A German dark green and gold porcelain round jewelry dish by Rosenthal for its Studio-Line collection. A great piece for a desk, nightstand or vanity area. Dish has an un-glazed fini...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Horizon Lead Crystal Glass Candle Holder Catchall Vide Poche 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Rosenthal Horizon Lead Crystal Glass Candle Holder Paperweight. Rosenthal Minimalist lead crystal glass Horizon line pillar votive candle holder, vide poche, catchall, paperweight ma...
Crystal
$4,688 / item
H 3.55 in W 14.57 in D 6.03 in
Contemporary 'Papillon' Artistic Crystal Bowl Aquamarine by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
Innovative design, fine craftsmanship and a strong artistic sense make this creation not only a bowl but a real artistic sculpture. The natural col...
Glass
$416Sale Price|30% Off
H 3.23 in W 2.59 in D 0.83 in
Ronson USA 1934 Art Deco Black Lacquered Rondette Desk Lighter in Stainless Stee
By Ronson Art Metal Works
Located in Miami, FL
A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful desk Rondette lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1934. This is a very unusual lighter designed with wonderful geometric patterns and crafted in solid steel with a central round body set upon two smaller cylindrical feet. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great contrast with the base polished steel. Extremely well made and solid construction with very nice care and attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition. Weight: 104.9 Grams, (67.24 Dwt). Measurements: 66 mm by 21 mm by 82 mm (2.59 x 0.83 x 3.23 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON US PAT.RE.NO.19023 RONSON RONDETTE ART METAL WKS INC NEWARK NJ US PAT.RE.NO.19023". The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Art Glass Heart Paperweight Decorative Object
By Robert Held
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial art glass heart paperweight or decorative object by artist Robet Held, circa late-20th century. Heart is a light blue art glass with touches of blue and p...
Art Glass
Vintage table lighter CHARMANT International 1970s Japan
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Very beautiful Japanese table lighter, Charmant International made in Japan in late 70's, brown tortoise lacquer, golden margins, piezoelectric ...
Metal
$584Sale Price|29% Off
H 1.3 in W 8.26 in D 5.1 in
1960s Catchall / Vide-Poche in Porcelain "La Gioconda" by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Original astonishing porcelain catchall / vide-poche "La Gioconda" by Piero Fornasetti. Heavy porcelain construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. Marked on the bottom...
Porcelain
HOLIDAY GIFT - Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio Line, Porcelain Vase
By Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal studio-linie, bird decor painted in shades of blue, Germany, 1970s Marked to the bottom. In perfect condition. Dimensions: Diameter 10 cm [3.9 in.] Heigh...
Porcelain
Stoneware Wall Clock by Raymond Peynet for Roger Capron
By Raymond Peynet, Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming ceramic wall clock features a whimsical, hand-illustrated scene in a distinctly mid-century French folk-art style. Crafted from textured stoneware, the clock is richly ...
Ceramic
SeaGull Seaplane Lighter, 1970s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a SOC-3A Seagull Plane. This two-place scout observation plane of the U.S. Navy was used for both land and sea landings, as well as used fo...
Metal
$328Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1.19 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Set of 2 Ashtrays And Table Lighter Vintage Italian Design 1970s
Located in Palermo, IT
Set of 2 Ashtrays and table lighter Vintage, Italian design, 1970s. The ashtray is made of brass and decorated wood. It measures 20 cm x 20 cm x 3 cm high. The lighter measures 7.5 ...
Brass, Steel
Blue Ceramic Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Handcrafted in Italy
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Blue Ceramic Ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi Handcrafted in Italy "Rimini Blu" enameled terra cotta turquoise blue ashtray by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Handcrafted in Italy w...
Stoneware
$271Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.35 in Dm 3.47 in
Modernist Blue & White Porcelain Vase by Rosenthal Studio Line Germany
By Rosenthal
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This white Rosenthal Studio-Line vase features an organic, wave-like pattern in blue. The vase has a hexagonal base that opens up to a round top. The designer is unknown, but the pie...
Porcelain
Porcelain Vase by Björn Wiinblad Rosenthal Studio Line Germany, 1970
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Op Art porcelain vase Producer: Rosenthal, Germany Designer: Björn Wiinblad Decade: 1970s This original vintage Op Art vase was produ...
Porcelain
Signed Crystal Diamond Paperweight from the Regali Collection by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Signed Crystal Diamond Paperweight from the Regali Collection by Rosenthal, circa 1990s. This elegant signed Rosenthal crystal paperweight from the "Regali" collection showcases the ...
Crystal
Midcentury Modern Porcelain Jewely Dish Rosenthal Bjorn Wiinblad
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in New York, NY
A German white, gold and copper porcelain jewelry dish by Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany, 20th century. A rectangular white porcelain dish with abs...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.75 in W 4.44 in D 4.44 in
Designer Midcentury Modern Porcelain Jewelry Dish Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal, Raymond Peynet
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage Mid-Century Modern German porcelain jewelry dish or small catchall with whimsical design by designer Raymond Peynet for Rosenthal Studio-Line, circa Mid-20th cent...
Porcelain
Sold
H 9.38 in W 4.25 in D 3.25 in
Rosenthal Studio-Line Vase by Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad with Bird Design
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German porcelain vase by Danish artist and designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Line, circa 1970s, 20th century, Germany. A colorful palate with gold bird design....
Porcelain
Beautiful Rosenthal Studio Linie Art Glass Mountain Paperweight
By Rosenthal
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand blown art glass paper weight made by Rosenthal Germany, studio line. Showing a mountain inside. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop.
Glass
Sold
H 7.5 in W 6 in D 3.25 in
Pair of Rosenthal Crushed/ Crinkled White Glazed Porcelain Bags/ Vases/ Vessels
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in North Miami, FL
These sculptural Rosenthal crushed bags/vases/vessels are white porcelain. Signed on the bottom Rosenthal Studio Line Germany with a signature by Tapio Wirkkala. The smaller bag i...
Porcelain