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.
Tapio Wirkkalla for Rosenthal Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Black 'Pollo' Vase
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful sculptural Midcentury Modern vintage matt black 'Pollo' vase designed by Finish designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Germany as part of their 'studioline' in the early 196...
Porcelain
Postmodern Cupola Series Sugar Pot from Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Cupola Series Sugar Pot from Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution markIt is completely authentic Additional inf...
Porcelain
Mid-Century Vintage Trio of Lisa Larson for Rosenthal Ceramic Candle Holders
By Rosenthal
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful set / trio of candleholders designed by Swedish studio ceramist / potter Lisa Larson (b. 1931) for the German company Rosenthal stamped and marked "Rosenthal - Studio Line" on the base. Fun, flower shaped candlestick holders produced circa 1970-1980. Measurements are: Larger stands...
Ceramic, Clay
Charles Greber Pottery Candle Holder
By Charles Greber
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A really beautifully glazed candle holder out of a collection of wonderful art pottery. It has a collection sticker on it's base. Great glaze.
Pottery
'Paprika' Ceramic Vases (3) by Anna-Lisa Thomson - Upsala Ekeby, Sweden
By Upsala Ekeby, Anna-Lisa Thomson
Located in Utrecht, NL
Impressive and rare set of 3 vintage ceramic 'Paprika' (peppers) vases by Swedish designer Anna-Lisa Thomson (1905-1952). Dark brown ceramic vases, worked with Sgraffito technique ...
Ceramic
Pair of Lisa Larson Lion Sculptures Gustavsberg
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of large lion ceramic sculptures by Lisa Larson for the Africa Series made by Gustavsberg. This size is the largest of the series. Signed at bottom. Whimsical interpretation a...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Studio Ceramic Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Great detail in this signed ceramic vase with a glazed white ceramic and detailed with cut and formed ceramic ornamentation around upper portion. Well executed.
Ceramic
$1,588 / set
H 7.09 in Dm 5.91 in
Michael Andersen Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Green Ceramic Vases, 1940s
By Michael Andersen & Son
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Tan France Auction Pick Set of two Scandinavian ceramic vases designed by Danish artist Michael Andersen & Son, signature engraved on the bottom, 1940s Dimension big vase: diameter...
Ceramic
Antique Chinese Martaban Stoneware Pot or Storage Jar from Ming Dynasty
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique Chinese Martaban Jars are made from thick heavy stoneware and functioned as storage containers and were used during the Ming dynasty. Chinese, Thai, Burmese, and Cambodian items were transported throughout southeast Asia in these large Martaban Jars that were typically produced near port towns. They were usually covered in black, brown, or amber glazes and displayed various decorations. You might find provisions such as oil, wine and fruits being transported in these large Chinese Pots...
Clay, Pottery, Stoneware
Nils Thorsson Vase For Royal Copenhagen
By Nils Thorsson
Located in Norwood, NJ
A "Baca" vase by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen. Marked 719/3259 and signed accordingly.
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
1980s Inoxpran Italian Coffee Moka Pot Creamer Sugar Set
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Italian Moka Set Mod Depositato made in Italy Italian Inox stainless steel attributed to Inoxpran Coffee 7.5 h x 4.63 diameter x 5.25 d Creamer 5 h x 3.75 d x 2.5 d Sugar 3....
Stainless Steel
$2,250 / set
H 1 in W 10.75 in D 10.75 in
Vintage “Les Jardin De Versace” for Rosenthal Dinner Plates Z- Set of 10
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Experience the height of high-fashion dining with this exquisite set of ten dinner plates from the iconic "Le Jardin des Papillons" collection, a legendary collaboration between the ...
Porcelain
Gustavberg Lisa Larson Paloma Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Very nice example of Lisa Larsons "Paloma" series in perfect condition. Less whimsical than much of Lisa Larsons work. Measures: Interior diameter 5.
Pottery
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Flatware, Extensive 91 Piece Set
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist stainless steel flatware set, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Austria, circa 1963. This is a large set containing 91 pieces total. They are constructed of dishwas...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Ceramic Faience Majolica Asparagus Serving Bowl, Italy 1980s
By Ed Langbein
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful large porcelain decorative or serving bowl is surrounded with cream and green asparagus spears. It was made by hand in the city of Basano, Italy. It is similar in desi...
Ceramic
White Porcelain Vase Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German designer oval white matte porcelain ceramic pottery vase by Rosenthal 'Studio-Line', Germany, circa late-20th century. With marker's mark and designer signature on...
Ceramic, Pottery, Porcelain