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.
$148Sale Price|26% Off
Vintage Bjorn Wiindblad Decorative Plate 1001 Nights Lute Player Plate
By Rosenthal, Jonathan Adler, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful collectible plate from the famous Danish artist Bjorn Wiinblad (Bjørn Wiinblad). The plate was designed for Rosenthal, Germany and is deco...
Gold Leaf
$2,771Sale Price|20% Off
Rosenthal Mural Porcelain Nude Painting, Plate, Painted by Salomé, Limited
By Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
"Wasserfall" - "Waterfall" Rosenthal mural Porcelain painting, plate, painted by Salomé. Limited. Waterfall, Rosenthal, studio-line, 1988, ceramic object, design Salome, signed o...
Porcelain
"Spirit of Oshkosh, " Art Deco Mural Study by Eugene Savage, 1937
By Eugene Francis Savage
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This very rare and important study for "The Spirit of Oshkosh," a major mural in Wisconsin, was painted by Eugene Savage in 1937. Savage is best know...
Paint
$3,920
H 18.25 in W 42 in D 1.5 in
An 18th Century Italian Hand-Painted Plaque, Decorative Wall Ornament
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian hand-painted wall plaque from the 18th century. This wall decoration from Italy has a half-octagon shape with longer flat section being at bottom-side of plaque. It has been hand-painted in a motif of horns, arrows, angels, and volutes. Primary coloring is gold and green with a black frame. There is a lovely old patina; a nice reflection of its age. This 18th century Italian wall plaque...
Wood
$1,500
H 20 in W 15 in D 0.25 in
Nude Painting by Jenna Snyder-Phillips, Black Ink Drawing on Paper, No Frame
By Jenna Snyder-Phillips
Located in New York, NY
Nude painting by Jenna Snyder-Phillips. Black ink on hard paper. Art work is from 2012. Artist is educated in Italy. This nude painting is sold but we have another one very similar. ...
Acrylic
$3,500 / set
H 71 in W 28.25 in D 1 in
Pair of Late 19th Century Painted Decorative Italian Wall Panels
Located in Round Top, TX
A very lovely pair of late 19th century painted decorative wall panels, Italian circa 1900. Charming romantic scenes painted on dense paper. These panels will be a delightful ornam...
Paper
Raphael Soyer Nude Oil Painting
By Raphael Soyer
Located in New York, NY
Fabulous portrait, "Seated Nude" by prominent American artist Raphael Soyer (1899-1987). Signed lower left. Oil color on canvas. Linen matte with gilt frame. Canvas measures: 11.75"...
Canvas
$204Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.26 in Dm 10.24 in
Artist Plate No. 7 by Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, Mid-Century, 1970s Germany
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Andernach, DE
''Auch die Schatten kommen von der Sonne'' (''Also the shadows are made by the sun'') – is the No. 7 of the ''Artists-Plates'' from the Studio-Line by Rosenthal. With a limited edi...
Porcelain
Iridescent Oil Paint and Wax on Paper by James Nares
By James Nares
Located in Stamford, CT
Unique oil paint and wax on paper by James Nares ( British, b. 1953 ). Untitled. circa 2008. Archivally framed in a 12-karat white gold frame.
Paper
Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelain Plate by Björn Wiinblad 'Limited Edition'
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Stunning wall plaque by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. The plaque was produced in 1975 in an edition of 5000, and this one is number 1328. The text on the plate is German ‘auch die...
Porcelain
$286
H 0.6 in W 11.42 in D 11.42 in
Christmas Glass Wall Plate by Bjørn Wiinblad 1976, Limited Edition for Rosenthal
By Bjørn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Andernach, DE
Bjorn Wiinblad, Danish artist, has created this beautiful series for German art glass & porcelain makers Rosenthal for their Studio-Line art edition. The Christmas decoration has bee...
Crystal
Selection of Original Female Nude Paintings
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Original Female Nude Paintings, probably American, circa 1950s. They are priced at $750 each. Neither work is signed. They have both been professionally framed in vintag...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
"Black Male Nude with Sculpture" by Mark Allen Isaacson
By Mark Allen Isaacson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This large and important portrait contrasts a modern African American male nude with two other figures in an artist's studio: a life-size pl...
Canvas
$3,105
H 35.24 in W 55.52 in D 2.56 in
Very Large Decorative Oil on Canvas of a Victorian Naval Scene on the Thames
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very large and decorative oil on canvas of some early Victorian ships on the Thames. This is a wonderful painting that looks really quite e...
Canvas
Sold
H 3.5 in W 3.75 in D 0.25 in
Miniature Antique German Rosenthal Plaques "Absend Am See" & "Am Waldrand"
By Rosenthal
Located in Big Flats, NY
Pair of antique miniature German Rosenthal framed hand-painted porcelain plaques titled "Absend Am See" (Evening at the Lake) and "Am Waldrand" (Near the Forest), anonymous artists, ...
Metal