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.
$748Sale Price|25% Off
1973 Verner Panton, 1-2-3 Series Dining Chair in Brown Fabric
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 Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach,...
Steel
$2,471 / set
H 31.89 in W 18.12 in D 23.63 in
Panton S, Chairs Vitra by Verner Panton for Herman Miller 1965s
By Verner Panton
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good condition - cleaned.
Laminate
$3,500 / set
H 36 in W 19 in D 23 in
Set of 6 Mid Century Italian Modern Sculptural Dining Chairs After Verner Panton
By Verner Panton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning vintage set of six dining chairs after Verner Panton. These chairs feature a sculptural design. Chairs will eventually need to recovered. Upholstery is original and in fai...
Fabric
1959 Verner Panton Early Fiberglass S Chair for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Verner Panton
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Vintage modern at its finest iconic S chair designed by Verner Panton for Herman Miller. Designed in 1959. Production 1960s. Unmarked. Note fiberglass expos...
Fiberglass
Woven Leather Dining Side Chair in Brown by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the woven leather dining side chair is ...
Leather, Walnut
$3,380 / item
H 35.5 in W 20 in D 19 in
Dining Chair in Solid Walnut with Leather and Fabric Upholstered Seat
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Ballard, CA
The solid walnut classic French dining and desk chair is handcrafted with traditional joinery. The upholstery features a combination of leather and fabric and is an homage to 1940s F...
Leather, Upholstery, Walnut
430 Chair in Brown Velvet by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Fully upholstered stacking chair with brass finish metal frame and felt feet. It is the Raf Simons designed fabric, Harald from Kvadrat, c...
Metal
Verner Panton "Pantonova" Dining Set of Dining Table and Six Chairs
By Fritz Hansen, Verner Panton
Located in Kansas City, MO
Very rare Verner Panton Pantonova dining table and chairs, made by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1971. Cognac color leather seat pads. Set includes table, m...
Chrome
$8,200 / item
H 35 in W 20 in D 23 in
Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton Chair, Luminescent, White, Blue, Limited Ed
By Vitra, Verner Panton
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton chair, Luminescent, white, limited edition, on occasion of 50th anniversary. 1000 luminescent produced. After several years of joint development by Verner Panton and Vitra, the Panton chair was finally ready for production in 1967 – as the first all-plastic cantilever chair to be manufactured in one piece. Created with a revolutionary production technique, the chair’s unique sculptural design was presented to the public for the first time at the imm Furniture Fair in Cologne in 1968. It rapidly came to symbolise an entire era. In 2018, 50 years after its launch, Vitra is issuing two limited editions of this iconic classic: Panton Chrome and Panton Glow. Vitra limited production of the “Glow” to 333 chairs which were sold in June 2018, the 50th anniversary of the first presentation of the chair to the public. Verner Panton showed an ardent interest in innovative technologies, techniques and materials over the course of his lifetime. He worked with lighting, colour and luminous elements in many of his futuristic interiors. For his legendary 1970 installation ‘Visiona 2...
Plastic
$1,442 / item
H 31.4 in W 19.6 in D 23.6 in
Verner Panton 'System 1-2-3' Standard Dining Chair in Fabric for Verpan
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Glendale, CA
Verner Panton 'system 1-2-3' standard dining chair in fabric for Verpan Verner Panton was one of Denmark's most legendary modern furniture a...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel
430 Chair in Beige by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Fully upholstered stacking chair with black painted metal frame and felt feet. It is the Nanna Ditzel designed fabric, Hallingdal from Kva...
Metal
$1,682 / item
H 31.4 in W 19.6 in D 23.6 in
Verner Panton 'System 1-2-3' Standard Lounge Chair in Fabric for Verpan
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Glendale, CA
Verner Panton 'system 1-2-3' standard lounge chair in fabric for Verpan Verner Panton was one of Denmark's most legendary modern furniture and interior designers. His innovative exp...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel
$4,471
H 33.47 in W 23.63 in D 25.21 in
Blue Scandinavian Modern Cone Chair Side Chair by Verner Panton Denmark 1958
By Verner Panton
Located in Vienna, AT
Scandinavian Modern cone chair or side chair in pastel blue color by Verner Panton 1958 and executed by Gebr. Nehl, Germany. A great and iconic chair cone shaped in soft pastel blu...
Steel
Sold
H 33.47 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
1958, Verner Panton for Rosenthal, Cone Chair in Original Orange Linen Fabric
By Rosenthal, Verner Panton
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Iconic chair, comfortable as side chair or dining chair. More pieces available in different colors, to use as-it-is or to re-upholster by us for extra price and time. For this chair,...
Steel
Sold
H 34.06 in W 23.63 in D 20.87 in
1973, Verner Panton for Rosenthal, Side Chair Including Original Panton Fabric
By Rosenthal, Verner Panton
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Please ask Casey Godrie Ibiza/Amsterdam for our competitive shipping quotes. This icon is with armrests, pretty rare, with a swivel base. The chair's fabric is in very good conditio...
Metal, Chrome
1973, Verner Panton, 1-2-3 Series Side Chair in Yellow Fabric
By Rosenthal, Verner Panton
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This iconic armchair is rare because of the arms. There are some very small rusty spot on the base. Some little damage in the fabric (see picture #9 and #10). Weight 16 kg. Free sh...
Metal