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.
1940s Rosenthal Porcelain Tray, Mid-Century Modern, Gold Accents
By Rosenthal
Located in Roma, IT
1940s Signed Rosenthal Decorated Porcelain Tray This tray is a prime example of Rosenthal’s craftsmanship; the company is one of the world’s most prestigious porcelain manufacturers...
Porcelain
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal porcelain jug , 1970s
By Rosenthal
Located in Delft, NL
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal porcelain jug , 1970s Dimensions: 15cm Height , 7cm Width , 11cm Depth Condition: Good Material: Porcelain
Porcelain
Coffee Dessert Service Bjørn Wiinblad by Rosenthal Hilton , 1980
By Bjørn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Bronx, NY
Coffee dessert service by Rosenthal "Hilton" 1980 Germany. Danissh artist Bjørn Wiinblad. 14 Mocca cups, 14 dessert plates, 1 creamer , 1 sugar bowl and a Coffee pot. In a shiny rose...
Porcelain
$93Sale Price|20% Off
Openwork plate, Rosenthal Moliere, Germany, 1938-1952
By Rosenthal
Located in Chorzów, PL
A plate with openwork sides from the Moliere series by the renowned German Rosenthal porcelain factory. Ecru porcelain decorated with gilding on the edges and a floral bouquet mot...
Porcelain
1970s "Queensberry Marble" Vase by Rosenthal Studio Linie, Germany
By Rosenthal
Located in Skien, NO
Stunning Mid-century Modern/Functionalist-style open-top vase in glazed pottery with the 'Queensberry Marble' pattern, circa 1970s, by Lord Queensberry, a professor of ceramic art at...
Ceramic, Pottery, Porcelain
Pair of Serving Platters by Versace for Rosenthal
By Gianni Versace, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
Designed by Gianni Versace for Rosenthal Studio Line, these "Le Voyage De Marco Polo" service platters or charger plates features beautiful and detaile...
Ceramic
Tapio Wirkkala Composition Secunda Grey Set 34 Piece
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare coffee and cake set in Rosenthal (Germany) bone china designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland 1963. 6 mocha cups with their saucers 6 coffee cups with their saucers Coffee pot Milk jug Sugar bowl 6 cake plates 20cm...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Studio-Line Porcelain Trinket Dish by Dorothy Hafner, Germany
By Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
A Rosenthal Studio-Line 'Flash' porcelain trinket dish by Dorothy Hafner. Germany, circa 1980. In excellent vintage condition commensurate of age.
Porcelain
Postmodern Irregular Shaped Grey Earthenware Vase by Rosenthal, Italy
By Rosenthal
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s This ceramic vase is marked by Rosenthal. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in excellent origin...
Earthenware
100-years Anniversary Porcelain Jar by Danish Bjørn Wiinbladh for Rosenthal
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Örebro, SE
This is the German porcelain jar with lid from Rosenthal, designed 1979 by Bjørn Wiinbladh, Denmark for the company’s 100-years anniversary. It comes in the yellow color scale, hand ...
Gold Leaf
Rosenthal Dessert Set of Eight Hand Painted Porcelain Plates
By Rosenthal
Located in Sofia, BG
Rosenthal dessert set of eight hand painted porcelain plates all decorated with the same flowers and leaves, circa 1920.
Porcelain
Large Square Boat Shape Artist Decorated & Signed Vase by Rosenthal, Germany
By Rosenthal
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Beautiful porcelain Mid-Century Modern artist signed & decorated vase by Rosenthal.
Porcelain
Art Nouveau Shell Vase With Nymph, Max Hiller for Rosenthal, Kronach, 1898-1900
By Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent Art Nouveau Vase: Green-blue-grey marbled body in the shape of an upright sea snail with a four-pointed base and surrounding seaweed relief, with a sculptural Art Nouveau b...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Footed Porcelain Vase
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
An Art Deco footed porcelain centerpiece by Rosenthal. White porcelain with gold accents. Stamped: Rosenthal Bavaria.
Ceramic
Designer porcelain lidded vase by Rosenthal Studio Line, Emilio Pucci, ca. 1960
By Emilio Pucci, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Designer porcelain lidded vase by Rosenthal Studio Line, Emilio Pucci, ca. 1960, H 23 cm This impressive designer porcelain lidded vase by Rosenthal Studio Line, designed by the ren...
Porcelain
$540Sale Price|70% Off
Exquisite German Gold Leaf Sevres Style Cobalt Rosenthal Oval Centerpiece Bowl
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
The Following Item that we are offering is A Rare and Impressive Magnificent and Exquisite Rare Large Handpainted Sevres Style German Rosenthal Stamped Porcelain Oval Bowl. Outstand...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1994
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1994 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming”. When Rosenthal asked the Danish art...
Porcelain
Large Porcelain Figurine 'Cabaret', by R. Marcuse, Rosenthal Selb Germany, 1920
By Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Nouveau beauty with chin-length dark brown hair, in a strapless dress with a deep neckline decorated with elaborate floral embroidery at the front and back and a softly falling, wave-like billowing skirt hem, posing bent to the side and playing a lute. Based on a round, white, fluted plinth, artist's signature 'RUDOLF MARCUSE...
Porcelain
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1984
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1984 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “Jingle Bells” and is reason no. 2 of the series. When Rosenthal a...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1980
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1980 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. When Rosenthal asked the Danish artist to illustrate a new series of dishes, he decid...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1987
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1987 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and is r...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1990
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1990 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. When Rosenthal asked the Danish artist to illustrate a new series of dishes, he decid...
Porcelain
$3,531Sale Price|23% Off
Rosenthal Designer Pop Art Porcelain Tea Set for Six, "Teeforelle" 'Tea Trout'
By Rosenthal, Christian Ludwig Attersee
Located in Berlin, DE
Rosenthal designer Pop Art porcelain tea set for six. "Teeforelle" (Tea Trout). Artist: Christian Ludwig Attersee. Exclusive tea set "Teeforelle", tea set made of German porcel...
Porcelain
Porcelain Figure, Seated Oriental Woman with Mirror, R. Förster, Rosenthal, 1923
By Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Art Deco porcelain figurine of the 1920s. Young oriental woman sitting on a rock with her leg up, looking at herself in a hand mirror and adjusting her headgear. Sparing painti...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Form 2000 Bjørn Wiinblad "Prater" Coffee Service, Set of 19 Pieces
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal, Raymond Loewy
Located in Miami, FL
In 1954 Rosenthal Studio-Linie of Germany introduced the Form 2000 dinnerware first designed by the industrial designers, Raymond Loewy (French-American, b. 1893 - d. 1986) and Richa...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1983
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1983 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “Silent night”. When Rosenthal asked the Danish artist to illustra...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1988
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1988 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and is reason no. 6 of the se...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1986
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1986 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “O Christmas Tree” and is reason no. 4 of the series. When Rosenth...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1989
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1989 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and is reason no. 7 of the series. Wh...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1991
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1991 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “Oh Sheperds, men and women come...” and is reason no. 9 of the se...
Porcelain
Vintage Ivory Ceramic Vase with Brown Floral Details by Rosenthal, Italy
By Rosenthal
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1943. This ceramic vase is marked by Rosenthal. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in perfect original...
Ceramic
Large Porcelain Group 'Spring of Love' by R. Aigner Rosenthal Selb Germany, 1916
By Rosenthal, Richard Aigner
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent Large Art Nouveau Group: Monumental depiction of a pair of lovers in intimate embrace: Unclothed young lady sitting on a pedestal and kissing the naked young man standing ...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1977
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1977 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. When Rosenthal asked the Danish artist to illustrate a new series of dishes, he decid...
Porcelain
Christmas Songs Plate by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal from 1985
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Porcelain Christmas plate from 1985 by Bjorn Wiinblad made by the German manufacturer Rosenthal. The dish is titled “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and is reason no. 3 of the series. ...
Porcelain