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.
Wall mounted Frosted Glass Art object with the Parable of the Good Samaritan
By Rosenthal, Bijorn Winblad
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wall plate by the Danish designer Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal made of metal wall mounted sheet lacquered in black and gilt with glass faceted frosted Art Glass.Limited edition from ...
Sheet Metal
Wall Mounted Glass Sculpture designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Bijorn Winblad
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wall plate by the Danish designer Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal made of metal wall mounted sheet lacquered in black and gilt with glass faceted frosted Art Glass.Limited edition from ...
Art Glass
Versace Collection 'Floralia Gold' Wall Porcelain Plate by Rosenthal 7 inches
By Gianni Versace, Rosenthal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Versace Collection 'Floralia Gold' Wall Porcelain Plate by Rosenthal 7 inches. The Versace Collection decorative wall plate is a work of art and the best expression of both, the eleg...
Porcelain
$714
H 10.24 in Dm 6.3 in
1990s, Iconic Porcelain Medusa Vase Designed by Gianni Versace for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Gianni Versace
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A red and gold porcelain vase designed by Gianni Versace and manufactured by Rosenthal in the Nineties. It's in perfect conditions, probably never used. The Medusa it's always used by Gianni Versace and also now it's often present in Versace collections. The Medusa was one of the 3 Gorgons...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Porcelain Borzoi Dog Sculpture
By Rosenthal
Located in Norwood, NJ
Porcelain dog sculpture, Borzoi/ Russian Wolfhound, depicting a Borzoi lying on the floor with outstretched forelegs, naturalistic polychrome painted , signed on the back above the standing edge. This vintage detailed Borzoi figurine...
Porcelain
Postmodern White Glazed Porcelain Glove Mold by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This mold is made in glazed porcelain. It was inspired by those ones designed by Gio Ponti for Ginori. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight t...
Porcelain
$2,350 / set
H 9.25 in W 6 in D 6 in
Lovely Group of Porcelain Kaiser/Rosenthal-Germany Björn Wiinblad, Manfred Frey
By Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Round Rock, TX
A lovely grouping of porcelain bisque vases for Kaiser Germany and Rosenthal “Studio Line” c.1970s. The decorative forms looked so good as a whole, we decided to offer them together....
Porcelain
Rosenthal Porcelain Figurine of a Poodle Dog
By Rosenthal
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Rosenthal porcelain figurine of a dog. It depicts a hand painted full of details tall poodle standing up with a green belt in his neck. The Rosenthal hallmark is below the ...
Porcelain
Dali Vase Green, Glass Object
By kontra
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
"Add an Artistic Touch to Your Space with the Captivating Dali Vase Glass Object Elevate your interior design with the mesmerizing beauty of the Dali Vase Glass Object. Inspired by t...
Glass
$350 / set
H 4.75 in W 4.5 in D 1.5 in
Pair of Studio-Line Angel Candlesticks by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of mid-century abstract angel-shaped candlesticks by Danish artist-cum-designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal of Germany as part of their extensive artist-led Studio Line serie...
Glass
Rosenthal Porcelain Figurine of a Penguin
By Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine mid-century Rosenthal porcelain figurine. In the form of a penguin. Marked with an impressed H.361 to the base. The design is attributed to Theodor Karner. Simply a wonde...
Porcelain
$15,367
H 8.47 in W 7.29 in D 1.97 in
1925 René Lalique - Art Deco Statuette Thais Suzanne Frosted Glass
By René Lalique, Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Statuette "Thais" made in frosted glass by René Lalique in 1925. Engraved signature on base. Perfect condition. Wonderful model. height: 21.5 cm Félix Marcilhac, René Lalique, Ca...
Blown Glass
$1,131 / set
H 11.03 in W 4.93 in D 3.55 in
Pair of Large Porcelain Vases by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Germany, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Pair of Large Porcelain Vases by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Germany, 1970s A stylish pair of different, full decorated large porcelain vases, designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosent...
Porcelain
$300Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 8.5 in W 3 in D 2 in
Pair of Studio Line Vases by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of midcentury papagena vases by Danish artist-cum-designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal of Germany as part of their extensive artist-led Studio Line series, circa 1970s. #547...
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
Pair of Rosenthal Decorative Porcelain Plates
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Rosenthal decorative porcelain plates. Marked Rosenthal Jahresteller Edition 1975.
Porcelain