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.
$30,439Sale Price|32% Off
Original Sunball Chair by Gunter Ris and Ferdinand Selldorf for Rosenthal
By Ris and Selldorf, Rosenthal
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a fully restored original version of this 1960's iconic classic astronaut's helmet style space age outdoor swivel chair, As you can imagin...
Velvet, Fiberglass
Postmodern German Nostro Leather Chair by Andreas Weber for Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Nostro Leather Chair by Andreas Weber for Rosenthal Einrichtung, 1980er An impressive chair by Rosenthal, based on a design by Andreas Weber from the 1980s. The ...
Leather, Ash
1970, Verner Panton, 1-2-3 Serie Office Chair, Original Panton Fabric by Kvadrat
By Rosenthal, Verner Panton
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible ...
Metal, Chrome
$9,500 / set
H 35 in W 20 in D 20.5 in
Postmodern Sculptural Steel Brown Leather French Pair of Chairs, 1980s, France
By Maria Pergay
Located in New York, NY
Sculptural steel brown leather French pair chairs, 1980s, France These are very rare leather and steel chairs form France. From the Maria Pergay, Michel Boyer Era. The leather is in...
Steel
$8,300 / set
H 31 in W 84 in D 36 in
Exceptional Pair of MidC Chesterfield Wing Back Chairs in Original Leather
Located in London, GB
As a LAPADA dealer and furniture maker, I have many many pieces in stock and extensive resources. This particular set is a very very beautiful collection of pieces. The hand dy...
Leather
$472 / item
H 31.1 in W 18.3 in D 16 in
Postmodern 1980s Flex 2000 Stacking Chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet, Beech Wood
By Gerd Lange, Thonet
Located in Basel, BS
Excellent Flex 2000 Stacking Chair by Gerd Lange for Thonet, with wooden oak frames and black seats. No longer produced, Rare items. NOTE: We have up to 32 chairs available!! Let us know if you need more-- we can arrange. This listing is for one chair, and you can purchase up to 32! Please let us know how many chairs you would like to purchase, and we can combine shipping for you. Designed by Gerd Lange in 1983, manufactured in Western-Germany. The legs are made of solid ashwood, the frame is made of ashwood bentwood and veneered beech struts. The seat and back consists of original black painted PVC material. Incredible space savers-- stackable! Dimensions 18.3ʺW × 16ʺD × 31.1ʺH International Shipping details...
PVC, Ash, Beech
$3,286
H 33.86 in W 24.41 in D 35.44 in
Verner Panton Original "Relaxer 2" Rocking Chair by Rosenthal, 1970s
By Verner Panton, Rosenthal
Located in The Hague, NL
Mid-Century Modern rocking chair " Relaxer II " by famous Danish designer Verner Panton and manufactured by Rosenthal Einrichtung in Germany, 1970s. The chair is in original conditi...
Fabric, Wood
Lila Hunter Chairs By Philippe Starck For XO 1980s
By Philippe Starck
Located in Čelinac, BA
Lila Hunter chair by Philippe Starck for XO.
Metal
1980s Knoll Jorge Pensi Amat Toledo Chair Spain Postmodern
By Amat-3, Jorge Pensi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Toledo chair stackable designed by Jorge Pensi for Amat 3 Spain for Knoll Organic and streamlined shape lightweight cast aluminum. Unmarked. Dye cast alum...
Aluminum
Verner Panton Cone Chair
By Plus-Linje, Verner Panton
Located in Highland, IN
A Classic Panton design, the cone chair is petite, sculptural, playful and surprisingly comfortable. This vintage example is newly upholstered in a brick red fabric with a nice weave.
Steel
1980s Postmodern Vintage Weiman Split Chairs - A Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful pair of Weiman split back chairs in original upholstery that are in perfect condition. No need to reupholster at all! Dimensions 31ʺ...
Textile
From $3,833 / item
+ 18 moreH 49.22 in W 47.25 in D 41.15 in
Botera High Chair in Upholstery, by E-GGS
By E-GGS, Miniforms
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Botera High chair is padded with four different types of foam, following the chair's design focus of comfort. A chunky cushion forms the base from which the high or low backrest is d...
Upholstery
Postmodern Chair by Karl Friedrich Förster, c.1980
By KFF, Karl Friedrich Förster
Located in Surbiton, GB
Postmodern steel chair designed by Karl Friedrich Förster. Composed of a tubular steel frame and bent steel sheet back rest with square laser c...
Steel
Karl Friederich Forster Trix Chair Postmodern 1980s
By KFF
Located in Čelinac, BA
KFF Chair Trix Postmodern 1980s
Metal
Ris & Selldorf German Post-War "Sunball" Chaise
By Ris and Selldorf
Located in Queens, NY
German Post-War Design (1969) "Sunball" yellow fiberglass spherical shaped adjustable chaise with brown cushions, pivoting tray and backlight on a round base. (RIS & SELLDORF)
Fiberglass, Upholstery
Sold
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 21.26 in
Pair of Rare Swing Chairs Jutta and Herbert Ohl for Rosenthal Studio Linie, 1982
By Rosenthal, Jutta and Herbert Ohl
Located in München, DE
Pair of very rare red swing chairs by Jutta and Herbert Ohl. From Rosenthal Studio Line. Designed 1982. Made in Germany. The cantilever chairs are made of red painted spring steel. In 1982 the designer couple Herbert and Jutta Ohl...
Metal
Sunball by Selldorf & Rijs for Rosenthal, 1960s Ball Outdoor Lounge Chair
By Ris and Selldorf, Rosenthal
Located in Telgte, DE
Sunball by Selldorf & Rijs for Rosenthal, 1960s ball outdoor lounge chair The SUNBALL is a design icon, created for stylish lounging. Herbert Selldorf and Günther F. Ris created ...
Fabric, Fiberglass
Jutta & Herbert Ohl Swing chair Rosenthal Lübke, Germany, 1982
By Herbert Ohl, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
Contour heaven. Swing chair designed by Jutta & Herbert Ohl for Rosenthal Lübke, Germany 1982. Cantilevered design, powder-coated steel.
Metal
Sold
H 43.51 in W 17.13 in D 17.72 in
German Limited Edition Screen Chair by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Bjørn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Telgte, DE
German limited edition screen chair by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal.
Wood
Simon Desanta "Flying Carpet" Chair for Rosenthal Einrichtung
By Simon Desanta, Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Flying carpet chair with removable blue cloth fabric and black steel base by Simon Desanta for Rosenthal Einrichtung.
Steel