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.
$443Sale Price|20% Off
Tapio Wirkaala "Porcelaine Noire" Centerpiece for Rosenthal Studio Linie, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Centerpiece, fruit bowl, plate in black porcelain, vintage modernism, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Linie “Porcelaine Noire” serie...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Porcelain Tureen Serving Dish Cobalt and Gold
By Rosenthal
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice vintage Rosenthal tureen.
Versace for Rosenthal Porcelain Plate
By Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Versace for Rosenthal round barocco themed porcelain plate in blue and orange colors / Made in Germany Original label on the underside / comes in original box Diameter: 8.5 inches / ...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Huge Paper Back Vase for Rosentahl, 1977
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
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
Rosenthal crystal bowl Abraham Palatnik Style
By Rosenthal
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Rosenthal crystal bowl Abraham Palatnik Style A gorgeous hand crafted piece in excellent condition. It measures : 37,5 cm centimeters Diam...
Crystal
Versace for Rosenthal Centerpiece
By Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gianni Versace designed for Rosenthal Arabesque clear crystal curved centerpiece / Made in Germany Original mark at corner / comes in original box Width: 8.5 inches / Depth: 8.5 inch...
Glass
German Porcelain Centerpiece Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful white porcelain German centerpiece plateau, in the Rococo design style, by Rosenthal, circa mid-20th century, Germany. Piece is white p...
Gold
$320Sale Price|20% Off
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
1910s Exceptional Vienna style Rosenthal Vase, Hand-Painted by A. Knije
By Rosenthal
Located in Skien, NO
A Large Vienna Style (Rosenthal) Hand-Painted Porcelain Urn Vase, Circa 1910s, Signed A- Knije (The significance of this artist's work is underscored by the auction result of a plaqu...
Porcelain
$464Sale Price|20% Off
Rosenthal Germany Crystal center Piece or Bowl
By Rosenthal
Located in Plainview, NY
A Rosenthal crystal center piece or bowl. This lovely piece by the German maker is signed " Rosenthal Germany" . The crystal center piece or bowl ...
Crystal
$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
Rosenthal Versace Porcelain Charger Plate
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rosenthal Versace porcelain charger plate.
$823 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 12.01 in
"Rosenthal meets Versace" Set of Six Decorative Porcelain Plates 90s Germany
By Rosenthal, Versace
Located in Palermo, IT
A set of six decorative porcelain plates from the "Rosenthal meets Versace" collection, crafted from fine porcelain and hand-finished with 24-karat gold, featuring several iconic Ver...
Gold
$482
H 8.67 in W 4.73 in D 2.56 in
Set of 2 Original 1977 Tapio Wirkkala ''Paper Bag'' Vases Black Brown, Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Andernach, DE
Design vintage classic by Tapio for Rosenthal, Germany. Set of 2 so called ''Paper Bag'' vases, the brown one, 1977 approx.. It comes with a roughly textured brown paper bag finish and a grey inner. The black vase is a real rarity indeed in this size and colour. It is all black porcelain: the outer matte deep black, the inner glossy, production 1977-1980s approx.. Black model #: 3581/22. Lovely set in great condition. Dimensions small brown vase...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Paper bag vase by Tapio Wirkkala , 1970’s
By Rosenthal
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 10,5 cm H, 6,5cm W, 6cm D Condition: Mint Material: Porcelain
Porcelain
English Creamware Covered Soup Tureen and Stand, Wedgwood, circa 1790
Located in New York, NY
English creamware covered soup tureen and stand, Wedgwood, circa 1790. Impressed Wedgwood.
$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
Large Lalique Crystal Bowl Centerpiece
By René Lalique
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully hand crafted Lalique centerpiece decorative bowl in a wide open "V" form shape. The bowl is embellished by engraved frosted doves and large scrolls design details. Maker'...
Crystal
Gianfranco Frattini, Red Centerpiece / Tray, Progetti Italy, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Progetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Red enamelled aluminium stackable tray / centerpiece designed by Gianfranco Frattini Manufactured by Progetti, Italy, 1970s. Manufacturer's label on the base Measures: Heigh...
Aluminum
$1,780 / set
H 5.91 in W 17.33 in D 10.24 in
Set of Two Ceramic Centerpieces by Gabbianelli, Italy, 1970s
By Gabbianelli
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two huge ceramic centerpieces by Gabbianelli. Oversized handles and pure sculptural shape.
Ceramic
$531
H 6.7 in W 14.57 in D 13 in
Yellow Earthenware Serving Centerpiece by Antonia Campi for Laveno, Italy
By Antonia Campi, S.C.I. Laveno
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1965. This centerpiece bowl is made in yellow lacquered earthenware with bossed decorations. This is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but...
Earthenware
$1,415Sale Price|60% Off
H 4.34 in W 11.42 in D 8.67 in
Flavio Poli Large Bowl Centerpiece Murano Glass for Seguso, 1960
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Flavio Poli bowl centerpiece for Seguso Vetri D'Arte made in the 1960s from the Sommerso collection. This large bowl has eye-catching sunset colors, with pink glass submerg...
Glass
Portuguese Majolica Ceramic Duck Tureen Centerpiece, 1960s
By Subtil
Located in Barcelona, ES
A cool majolica glazed ceramic duck figure tureen in brown and cream colors with accents of black, green and yellow. Portugal, 1960s. Manufactured by E.Subtil Portugal and marked on the base. Use it to serve duck foie gras...
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
Rosenthal Pompadour Porcelain Serving Dish Centerpiece Compote 14"
By Rosenthal
Located in Dayton, OH
1933 Rosenthal Pompadour porcelain centerpiece / serving dish. Oval shape with scalloped edge, footed base, pierced handles, decorated with gilt flowers and trim around a deep blue ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 1.19 in
1990s Pop Art Andy Warhol Self Portrait Square Glass Tray by Rosenthal
By Andy Warhol, Rosenthal
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Self portrait Curved Glass Tray, designed by the iconic artist Andy Warhol, epitomizes the spirit of the era's vibrant and bold artistic movement. Blending Warhol's distinctive style with functional design, this glass tray serves as both a practical accessory and a captivating piece of contemporary art. Measuring a generous square, the tray boasts clean lines and a sleek profile that characterizes the 1990s aesthetic. The glass surface provides a pristine canvas for Warhol's signature imagery, capturing his own self-portrait with a sense of audaciousness and wit that defined his work. Rendered in a black and green Pop Art-inspired color palette, the self-portrait is transformed into a captivating visual spectacle, with vibrant hues that demand attention. The tray's glass construction imbues the piece with a sense of translucence and depth, allowing Warhol's self-portrait to shimmer and come to life when viewed from different angles. Warhol's self-portrait is masterfully executed, with his distinctive hairstyle, sunglasses, and enigmatic gaze captured in his characteristic style. This collaboration between Andy Warhol and Rosenthal, a renowned German porcelain manufacturer, demonstrates the cross-pollination of art and design during the 1990s. The tray seamlessly merges the worlds of fine art and functional homeware, blurring the boundaries between the gallery space and the everyday. This Tray put the iconic Andy Warhol self...
Cut Glass
Rosenthal Andy Warhol "Golden Angels" Porcelain Ornament, New in Box
By Rosenthal, Andy Warhol
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Rosenthal Studio-Line Andy Warhol Christmas Golden Angels porcelain ball. Andy Warhol, quite possibly the greatest pop artist of our time, loved ...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Andy Warhol "Golden Angels" Porcelain Big Ball, New
By Rosenthal, Andy Warhol
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Rosenthal Studio-Line Andy Warhol Christmas Golden Angels big porcelain ball. Andy Warhol, quite possibly the greatest pop artist of our time, lo...
Porcelain
Glass Plate by Andy Warhol for Rosenthal Studio
By Andy Warhol, Rosenthal
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An Andy Warhol silkscreen on Rosenthal studio glass featuring the portrait of Grace Kelly.
Glass
Sold
H 6.25 in W 14 in D 10.5 in
Masterpiece Antique Art Nouveau Rosenthal Hand Painted Porcelain Footed Bowl
By Rosenthal
Located in Tustin, CA
Exquisite large antique fine porcelain Art Nouveau Philipp Rosenthal Bavarian “Empire” pedestal footed centerpiece bowl is from the early 1900s....
Porcelain
Large Rosenthal Modern Aqua Glass Platter with Silver Fern Design
By Rosenthal
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A gorgeous large platter, bowl or centerpice made by Rosenthal, Germany. Center has silver and cleag glass fern design. From a upscale, vintage modern palm springs estate. Signed: Ro...