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.
Porcelain Wall Decoration by Tapio Wirkkala, Yearly Limited Edition 1971
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Uccle, BE
This porcelain wall decoration designed by Tapio Wirkkala is composed of inverted half bubbles on a gilded paint top surface, it is a lunar and poetic vision that Tapio Wirkkala offe...
Porcelain
$1,001
H 3.15 in W 8.27 in D 1.97 in
Black Loon Porcelain Figure by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Black Loon Porcelain Figure by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s. Wirkkala, the Finnish designer and artist, created an iconic figure of a loon for the German porcelain company Ros...
Porcelain
$299
H 4.14 in W 3.35 in D 2.17 in
Mid-Century Tapio Wirkkala “Paper Bag" Vase For Rosenthal, Germany c.1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
For sale is an iconic Mid-Century porcelain “Paper Bag" Vase designed by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, circa 1977, for Rosenthal’s Studio Line "DO NOT LITTER" range. This example...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Pollo Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Porcelin Pollo Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line.
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala / VASE / Iittala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
This piece is made using a special glass developed by Iittala called “Q Colour,” which features a pastel-toned, semi-transparent blue glass that emits a unique glow when light passes...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$443
H 8.67 in W 3.63 in D 3.55 in
Rare Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Studio Line White Op Art Porcelain Vase
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This elegant white porcelain vase was designed by the renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line, Germany. Characteristic of Wirkkala’s refined and sculptural...
Porcelain
$563
H 5.91 in W 4.06 in D 2.56 in
Original 1977 Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" Ceramic Vase for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Malmö, SE
Original Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" porcelain Vase for Rosenthal. Early and rare production, made between 1979 and 1980. Excellent condition. Marked 'Rosenthal' 'Studio Linie' and ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,229 / set
H 7.88 in W 9.45 in D 7.88 in
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelain Vases "Chicken" , 1970s
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Naples, IT
Black and white matte porcelain vases in which the protagonist is a stylized chicken, deprived of its head. A design object that is suitable for decorating any type of environment....
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Huge Paper Back Vase for Rosentahl, 1977
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Munich, DE
Rare large paper bag vase designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Rosenthal, Germany 1977. This vase is made of porcelain (stoneware) and looks like a paper bag. The vase is m...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala and Dorothy Hafner Vase for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Dorothy Hafner, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Oslo, NO
Refreshing vase from the 'Century New Wave' series in porcelain. Designed by Tapio Wirkkala and Dorothy Hafner. Made by Rosenthal from 1985. The vase is an exemplary piece from...
Porcelain
Early Tapio Wirkkala "Winter Journey" Tall White Porcelain Vase
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rut Bryk, Rosenthal
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tall Tapio Wirkkala, Rut Bryk "Winterreise" White Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal. Circa 1980. Featuring a flared polygonal column form on 3.75D base with winter landscape Black line d...
Porcelain
$7,139 / set
H 1.58 in W 1.97 in D 4.34 in
A Pair of Tapio Wirkkala Bronze Bird Sculptures, Kultakeskus Hämeenlinna, 1970s
By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Helsinki, FI
A couple of nice Tapio Wirkkala bronze bird sculptures (paper weights). Both items are in beautiful original condition with nice vintage patinas. Alt...
Bronze
Tapio Wirkkala "Iceberg" Vase 3825
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
The iconic "Iceberg" vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland. This vase is an incredibly heavy still-mould blown solid crystal piece. Created by the Finnish master to resemb...
Crystal
$563
H 7.49 in W 4.93 in D 3.15 in
Original 1977 Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" Ceramic Vase for Rosenthal
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Malmö, SE
Original Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" porcelain Vase for Rosenthal. Early production, made between 1979 and 1980. Excellent condition. Marked 'Rosenthal' 'Studio Linie' and 'Germany'...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Large Mid-Century Modern Glass Vase by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Impressive, statuesque glass vase by Finnish designer, Tapio Wirkkala, for Rosenthal Studio-Line of Germany. Composed of thick glass sculpted to look like ice. Largest example manufa...
Glass
Vintage Venini Egg Designed by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Doraville, GA
A vintage transparent glass egg with a gold leaf yoke. Tapio Wirkkala was well know by Venini since the 1950s due to Wirkkala's inclusion in the Venice Biennale's, Wirkkala joined Venini in 1964, the egg was designed in 1968 and manufactured until sometime after this date. The egg was illustrated in the 1969 Venini catalog, page 16...
Gold Leaf
Post Modern Rosenthal Art Glass Bowl by Eric J Roush
By Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and graphic oval glass art bowl by Rosenthal. This beautiful piece from the late 90s is graphic and detailed. It shares yellow and amber tones along with a smoke purple ton...
Glass
German Mid-Century Modern Rosenthal Porcelain Sphere, 1970s
By Rosenthal
Located in MIlano, IT
German Mid-Century Modern Rosenthal porcelain sphere, 1970s Perforated white porcelain sphere with interwoven decoration,1970s. Very good conditio...
Porcelain
Sold
H 8 in W 5.5 in D 3 in
Rosenthal Vintage White Glazed Ceramic Crushed Do Not Litter Bags Signed Pair of
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous pair of signed Rosenthal white glazed crushed ceramic bags are called the Do Not Litter Bags. Both are signed in gold Rosenthal on the lowe...
Ceramic
Sold
H 3.75 in W 4.75 in D 3.75 in
Signed Modernist Ceramic Bone White Beaded Sculptural Vase by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated and sculptural vase was realized by the esteemed maker Rosenthal in Germany during the latter half of the 20th century. It offers an elongated amorphic form with a...
Ceramic
Rosenthal Vintage Crushed Porcelain Brown Paper Bag Sculpture
By Rosenthal
Located in North Miami, FL
This crushed Rosenthal porcelain brown paper bag sculpture is vintage. It is from the 1970s. Always popular and desirable. It is part pop art and part ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 5.91 in W 5.52 in
Ceramic Midcentury Rosenthal Figure by Hans Stangl, Abstract Madonna Sculpture
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ceramic Rosenthal figure by Hans Stangl from 1953 in form of an abstract Madonna sculpture. Wonderful pale craquelling glaze. Timeless design.
Ceramic
Rare Victor Vasarely Optical Sculptural Porcelain Teapot
By Victor Vasarely, Rosenthal
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely and arresting optical hallmarked teapot with a stainless steel handle, was designed by Victor Vasarely for Rosenthal. It is hallmarked in two places and is a limited edi...
Stainless Steel