About Berlin Retro Finds
Berlin Retro Finds is an online gallery for vintage and modern decorative objects, with a focus on mid-century ceramics, porcelain, glassware and design accessories from the 1950s to the 1980s. The business began with a shared habit: spending weekends exploring Berlin flea markets, antique shops and small auctions in search of objects with character, quality and a sense of time. Over the years, that personal search grew into a carefully curated collection, and eventually into a gallery offering distinctive European design pieces to collectors, interior designers and des...Read More
Established in 2025
Featured Pieces
Barbara Stehr Drip Glaze Studio Ceramic Vase Trio, Germany, 1980s
Located in Berlin, DE
A trio of German studio ceramic vases by Barbara Stehr, created in Germany during the 1980s-1990s. Each handcrafted vase combines a restrained organic form with layered drip glazes i...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Organic Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Paul Dresler Grootenburg Copper Reduction Ceramic Vase Pair, Germany, 1950s
By Paul Dresler
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Paul Dresler ceramic vases, hand-thrown at his Grootenburg workshop in Krefeld, Germany, circa 1940-1950. These German studio pottery vases feature copper reduction glazes in...
Category
Vintage 1940s German Art Deco Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Friedrich Kristall Blue Bubble Glass Vase Pair, Germany, 1970s
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of blue cased-glass vases by Friedrich Kristall, produced in West Germany during the 1970s. Both pieces combine vivid blue outer glass with opaque white interiors and raised c...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Oldrich Lipsky Exbor Cut Glass Vase Pair, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
By Exbor, Oldrich Lipsky
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of thick, hot-worked and cut glass vases designed by Oldřich Lipský for Exbor in Nový Bor, Czechoslovakia, during the 1960s. Deeply cut vertical waves and polished concave surfaces refract the light through layers of amber-yellow, orange-red and clear glass.
Although different in size and colour, the two vases share the same strong vertical rhythm and extensive cold-working. Their polished recesses distort the coloured glass beneath, producing shifting reflections and areas of optical depth. These technically demanding forms exemplify the experimental approach to cut glass that brought post-war Czechoslovak design international recognition.
Oldřich Lipský (1922–1987) trained at the glassmaking school in Kamenický Šenov before studying at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague under Karel Štipl. He later taught glass cutting in Kamenický Šenov and worked at the glass school in Nový Bor. His designs are recognised for their substantial forms, saturated colours and precisely cut surfaces. His education and teaching career are documented by the British Museum.
Dimensions:
Larger yellow vase...
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Ruby Red Cut Crystal Block Vase Pair by VEB Ilmkristall, East Germany
By VEB
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of heavy ruby-red crystal vases produced by VEB Ilmkristall in Ilmenau, East Germany, during the 1980s. Their stacked geometric profiles are shaped by horizontal bands and dee...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Dorothy Hafner Rosenthal Century New Wave Vase Bowl Set, 1980s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal, Dorothy Hafner
Located in Berlin, DE
This two-piece Rosenthal Studio-Line porcelain set combines Tapio Wirkkala’s dynamic forms with Dorothy Hafner’s Century: New Wave decoration. Sweeping lines, rhythmic marks and past...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Mario Enke Terracotta Studio Pottery Vase and Bowl Trio, Germany, 1980s
By Mario Enke
Located in Berlin, DE
Studio ceramic trio by Mario Enke, comprising one rounded vase and two related bowls. Each piece is hand-thrown in terracotta and finished with a matte reduction glaze in warm ochre ...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Czech Art Glass Vase Pair by Jan Beranek and Frantisek Vizner, 1960s-70s
By Frantisek Vizner, Skrdlovice, Jan Beranek
Located in Berlin, DE
Substantial pair of hand-shaped Czech art glass vases, combining Jan Beránek’s 1959 “Red Core” model 5988 with an optical vase attributed to František Vízner. One is broad and fluid,...
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Heinrich Selb White and Gold Porcelain Vase Pair, Germany, 1960s
By Heinrich & Co. 1
Located in Berlin, DE
Matched pair of mid-century porcelain vases by Heinrich Selb Bavaria. Glossy white bodies are encircled by broad, textured bands of satin gold. The tall, tapering Model 1796 and low,...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Javier Mariscal Leones Four Porcelain Vases for Rosenthal, 1990s
By Javier Mariscal, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Complete set of four “Leones” porcelain vases designed by Javier Mariscal for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Their stepped forms become individual characters through painted faces, profiles,...
Category
1990s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Rosenthal Debut Porcelain Vase Pair by Boehm and Nairac, 1990s
By Rosenthal, Michael Boehm, Rosemonde Nairac
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Rosenthal Studio-Line “Debut” porcelain vases combining Michael Boehm’s flattened forms with geometric decoration by Rosemonde Nairac. Produced in 1991 and 1993, their stagge...
Category
1990s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Porcelaine Noire Vase and Ashtray, Rosenthal, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Pairing of Tapio Wirkkala’s Model 7156 vase and coordinating ashtray in black Porcelaine Noire for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Rounded glossy bodies contrast with finely ringed matte surf...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain, Bisque
Barbara Stehr Drip Glaze Studio Ceramic Vase Trio, Germany, 1980s
Located in Berlin, DE
A trio of German studio ceramic vases by Barbara Stehr, created in Germany during the 1980s-1990s. Each handcrafted vase combines a restrained organic form with layered drip glazes i...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Organic Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Paul Dresler Grootenburg Copper Reduction Ceramic Vase Pair, Germany, 1950s
By Paul Dresler
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Paul Dresler ceramic vases, hand-thrown at his Grootenburg workshop in Krefeld, Germany, circa 1940-1950. These German studio pottery vases feature copper reduction glazes in...
Category
Vintage 1940s German Art Deco Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Friedrich Kristall Blue Bubble Glass Vase Pair, Germany, 1970s
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of blue cased-glass vases by Friedrich Kristall, produced in West Germany during the 1970s. Both pieces combine vivid blue outer glass with opaque white interiors and raised c...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Oldrich Lipsky Exbor Cut Glass Vase Pair, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
By Exbor, Oldrich Lipsky
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of thick, hot-worked and cut glass vases designed by Oldřich Lipský for Exbor in Nový Bor, Czechoslovakia, during the 1960s. Deeply cut vertical waves and polished concave surfaces refract the light through layers of amber-yellow, orange-red and clear glass.
Although different in size and colour, the two vases share the same strong vertical rhythm and extensive cold-working. Their polished recesses distort the coloured glass beneath, producing shifting reflections and areas of optical depth. These technically demanding forms exemplify the experimental approach to cut glass that brought post-war Czechoslovak design international recognition.
Oldřich Lipský (1922–1987) trained at the glassmaking school in Kamenický Šenov before studying at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague under Karel Štipl. He later taught glass cutting in Kamenický Šenov and worked at the glass school in Nový Bor. His designs are recognised for their substantial forms, saturated colours and precisely cut surfaces. His education and teaching career are documented by the British Museum.
Dimensions:
Larger yellow vase...
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Ruby Red Cut Crystal Block Vase Pair by VEB Ilmkristall, East Germany
By VEB
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of heavy ruby-red crystal vases produced by VEB Ilmkristall in Ilmenau, East Germany, during the 1980s. Their stacked geometric profiles are shaped by horizontal bands and dee...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Dorothy Hafner Rosenthal Century New Wave Vase Bowl Set, 1980s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal, Dorothy Hafner
Located in Berlin, DE
This two-piece Rosenthal Studio-Line porcelain set combines Tapio Wirkkala’s dynamic forms with Dorothy Hafner’s Century: New Wave decoration. Sweeping lines, rhythmic marks and past...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Mario Enke Terracotta Studio Pottery Vase and Bowl Trio, Germany, 1980s
By Mario Enke
Located in Berlin, DE
Studio ceramic trio by Mario Enke, comprising one rounded vase and two related bowls. Each piece is hand-thrown in terracotta and finished with a matte reduction glaze in warm ochre ...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Czech Art Glass Vase Pair by Jan Beranek and Frantisek Vizner, 1960s-70s
By Frantisek Vizner, Skrdlovice, Jan Beranek
Located in Berlin, DE
Substantial pair of hand-shaped Czech art glass vases, combining Jan Beránek’s 1959 “Red Core” model 5988 with an optical vase attributed to František Vízner. One is broad and fluid,...
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass
Heinrich Selb White and Gold Porcelain Vase Pair, Germany, 1960s
By Heinrich & Co. 1
Located in Berlin, DE
Matched pair of mid-century porcelain vases by Heinrich Selb Bavaria. Glossy white bodies are encircled by broad, textured bands of satin gold. The tall, tapering Model 1796 and low,...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Javier Mariscal Leones Four Porcelain Vases for Rosenthal, 1990s
By Javier Mariscal, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Complete set of four “Leones” porcelain vases designed by Javier Mariscal for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Their stepped forms become individual characters through painted faces, profiles,...
Category
1990s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Rosenthal Debut Porcelain Vase Pair by Boehm and Nairac, 1990s
By Rosenthal, Michael Boehm, Rosemonde Nairac
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Rosenthal Studio-Line “Debut” porcelain vases combining Michael Boehm’s flattened forms with geometric decoration by Rosemonde Nairac. Produced in 1991 and 1993, their stagge...
Category
1990s German Post-Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Porcelaine Noire Vase and Ashtray, Rosenthal, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Pairing of Tapio Wirkkala’s Model 7156 vase and coordinating ashtray in black Porcelaine Noire for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Rounded glossy bodies contrast with finely ringed matte surf...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Porcelain, Bisque