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.
Rosenthal porcelain dinner service "Maria", Germany 1966
By Rosenthal
Located in Delft, NL
Rosenthal porcelain dinner service "Maria", Germany 1966 A white porcelain dinner service set by Rosenthal, Germany Dated with the Rosenthal mark of 1966 The romantic set called " M...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Austria "Composition S" by Rostfrei Satin 40 Piece
By Rosenthal, Rostfrei Solinger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Tapio Wirkkala Rostfrei Solingen "Composition S" for Rosenthal made in Austria 40 Piece Satin Stainless Steel Flatware Set. Service for 8 plus a storage box. Presents like it was n...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rosenthal Studio Line Dinnerware Set Eduardo Paolozzi Design
By Eduardo Paolozzi, Rosenthal
Located in Bastogne, BE
Discover the artistic brilliance of this exquisite vintage Rosenthal Studio Line dinnerware set, a true collector's piece designed by ...
Porcelain
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
Coffee Set For 6 Guests, Raymond Loewy & Richard Latham, Rosenthal
By Richard Latham, Raymond Loewy, Rosenthal
Located in St Ouen, FR
Timeless elegance both of shape and pattern for this modernist line created in 1954 by Raymond Loewy and Richard Latham for the prestigious German manufacture. The particularly moder...
Porcelain
Romance, Bijorn Windblad Rosenthal Silverplate Flatware for 12 with Case 79 Pcs
By Bijorn Winblad, Rosenthal
Located in St. Louis, MO
Romance by Bijorn Windblad for Rosenthal Studio-Linie Mid-Century Modern silver plate flatware for 12 with service pieces in original modernist Rosenth...
Steel
Set of 6 Salad or Dessert Plates Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal 'Concertina', 1990s
By Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal
Located in Andernach, DE
A magnificent vintage Studio-Line series designed by artist Björn Wiinblad. The series was launched in 1990 and is now out of print. “Concertina” is usually lavishly decorated—but he...
Porcelain
Black by Rosenthal Sterling Silver and Porcelain Flatware Service Set 50 Pcs
By Rosenthal
Located in Big Bend, WI
Variation black by Rosenthal sterling silver and porcelain handle dinner flatware set - 50 pieces. This set includes: Ten dinner knives, 8 1/4", ten dinner forks, 7 7/8", 10 sala...
Sterling Silver
Rosenthal Porcelain "Berlin" Porcelain Service, 50
By Rosenthal
Located in Astoria, NY
Rosenthal Porcelain "Berlin" Pattern Partial Porcelain Service, designed by Hans-Theo Baumann, all marked "Rosenthal / Germany" and comprising: (1) coffee pot, (1) covered sugar bowl...
Porcelain
Rosenthal "Venetian" Partial Dinner Service Set, 91 Pieces
By Rosenthal
Located in Astoria, NY
Rosenthal "Venetian" Partial Dinner Service Set, comprising: twelve dinner plates, twelve soup bowls, twelve dessert plates, twelve bread and butter plates, twelve small bowls, fourt...
Ceramic
Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal Crystalline Pattern China Set 50 Pieces
By Rosenthal, Raymond Loewy
Located in Atlanta, GA
Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal "Crystalline" pattern china set, circa 1950s. This set consists of 50 pieces total including eleven (11) dinner plates measuring 10.5" diameter, twelve (1...
Porcelain
$1,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Rosenthal Madeleine 87 Piece Dinner and Tea Set
By Rosenthal
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This is a vintage 87 piece set of Rosenthal Madeline dinnerware and tea set from 1931 in Germany featuring a lively art deco design and a 24k gold r...
Porcelain
Postmodern Tac Series Box with Lid from Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Tac Series Box with Lid from Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Glass...
Glass
Vintage Fornasetti for Rosenthal Gilded Medusa Porcelain Desert or Salad Plates
By Rosenthal, Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
This set of 4 vintage classic porcelain plates are a collaboration between Fornasetti and Rosenthal. They have the 3 medusas on top centering the sun motif between the sun’s rays and...
Gold
Rosenthal Form 2000 "Linear" Dinnerware set by Raymond Loewy (54 Pieces)
By Rosenthal, Raymond Lowey
Located in Highland, IN
The Form 2000 or "Classic Modern" line of dinnerware designed by Raymond Lowey with Richard Latham in 1954 is elegant and timeless. This 54-piece set is decorated with the rare "Lin...
Porcelain
$7,995 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Fidelio by Christofle France Silverplate Flatware Service 12 Set 136 pcs Dinner
By Christofle
Located in Big Bend, WI
Large Fidelio by Christofle France Silverplate Flatware set - 75 pieces. This set includes: 12 Dinner Size Knives, 10 1/2" 12 Dinner Size Forks,...
Silver Plate
$17,500 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Aria by Christofle France Sterling Silver Flatware Service 12 Set 79 pcs in box
By Christofle
Located in Big Bend, WI
With a dedication to perfection and quality, Christofle flatware creations unite craftsmanship and modern technique, resulting in flatware to be handed down through generations. Exc...
Sterling Silver
Wedgwood Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service For 12 People
By Wedgwood
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful Wedgwood porcelain tableware dinner service for twelve people with coffee serving set with hand painted design details. The service is in great condition. Maker's mark undersigned. Include 87 pieces all-together. 12 dinner plate 10 3/4" D. 12 Salad plate...
Gold
$6,354 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Marly by Christofle France Silverplate Flatware Service 12 Set 90 pcs Dinner
By Christofle
Located in Big Bend, WI
Created in 1897, this pattern owes its name to the Marly Chateau built near Paris by Louis XIV. Marly is one of the most elaborately decorated patterns of the collection; the fine ch...
Silver Plate
"Gala Blue" MidCentury Dinner Service Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal
By Raymond Loewy, Rosenthal
Located in Chicago, IL
Lovely midcentury dinner service designed by Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal (Germany). Fine porcelain that has a lovely irridencent blue band that is outlined by gold (gilded) bands. ...
Porcelain
Raymond Loewy After Dinner Coffee Set for "Rosenthal 2000", 1961
By Rosenthal, Raymond Loewy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful 20 piece 'After Dinner' coffee set by Rosenthal 2000 from the Secunda series. Coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer and complete set of service with six cups, six saucers and six...
Porcelain
$1,367 / set
H 6.3 in W 1.34 in D 0.4 in
Mid-Century Modern 26 Pcs Concorde Cutlery Set by Raymond Loewy for Air France
By Raymond Loewy
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Raymond Loewy designed this sleek cutlery for the Compagnie d'Esthétique Industriale to be delivered to Air France that served its high class meals with this high class design exclus...
Stainless Steel
Large Dinnerware Set by Luneville, France, circa 1930
Located in New York, NY
This impressive classical porcelain set from Lunéville embodies the elegance and tradition of vintage French tableware. Renowned for its graceful shapes and charming floral motifs, e...
Porcelain
$5,500 / set
H 2 in W 7.25 in D 10 in
English Minton Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service / Twelve People
By Minton
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Minton hand painted and decorated porcelain dinner service for twelve people. Made in England between 1948 -1970 "with impressed marks "Minton / china / 2-65" and pattern numbers in gold. Discontinued pattern. Green rim with hand painted floral interior setting in a white background with hand painted gilt gold design. Each piece is in excellent condition. The set include 12 dinner plates 12 bread and butter plates 12 compote dishes 12 coffee cups 12 coffee saucers...
Gold
Wedgwood Porcelain Dinner Service for Twelve People
By Wedgwood & Co
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Wedgwood porcelain dinnerware with exterior / interior hand painted design detail service for twelve people with serving pieces. Each piece is in great condition. Maker's mark undersigned. Set include 12 dinner plate 11" diameter. 12 salad plates...
Porcelain, Paint
$4,500 / set
H 10 in Dm 10.13 in
Mid-Century Romanze Porcelain Dinner Service by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, near complete Mid-Century modern porcelain dinner service. By Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. In the Romanze form and Medley pattern. Consisting of: 10 Large Dinner Plates ...
Porcelain
$2,274Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1.19 in W 9.45 in D 9.45 in
Limoges Albert Pillivuyt 82-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set, Violets
By Maison Albert Pillivuyt & Cie
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing 82-piece dinner service “Violets”, Albert Pillivuyt, Foëcy Limoges, Art Nouveau, early 20th century – France Material: Limoges porcelain Model: “Violets” Manufacturer: Pilli...
Porcelain
Sold
H 4.34 in W 1.97 in D 1.19 in
80s salt and pepper shakers by Dorothy Hafner Rosenthal Studio Line "Flash One"
By Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal
Located in München, DE
Beautiful 1980s porcelain salt and pepper shakers. Designed by Dorothy Hafner. Manufacturer: Rosenthal Studio Line. Model "Flash One." Signed by the designer. A fantastic, high-quali...
Porcelain
Rosenthal porcelain dinner "Romanze" set by Björn Wiinblad, 1958
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Delft, NL
Rosenthal porcelain dinner "Romanze" set by Björn Wiinblad, 1958 A beautiful white porcelain dinner set with relief and blue painted centre The set is made by the manufacturer Rosen...
Porcelain
Sold
H 2 in W 2.5 in D 1.75 in
Rosenthal Versace Home Collection Crystal Treasury Napkin Rings – Set of 12
By Versace Home Collection, Rosenthal
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to present an exquisite set of twelve napkin rings from the renowned Rosenthal for Versace Home Collection. Featuring a striking central motif of the iconic Medu...
Crystal
Sold
H 8.5 in W 1 in D 0.1 in
Rosenthal Design PLUS Flatware, 68 pcs., For 12 Persons, by Wolf Karnagel, 1970s
By Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
A comprehensive set of midcentury flatware / cutlery from the 1970s. Out of the „Design Plus“ line, designed by Wolf Karnagel and executed by Rose...
Stainless Steel
Rosenthal Porcelain "Sans Souci" Service for 12
By Rosenthal
Located in Astoria, NY
Rosenthal porcelain dinner service for twelve in the "Sans Souci" pattern, each piece marked in green and black underglaze "Rosenthal / Selb Germany / Sans Souci / U.S. Zone" and wit...
Porcelain
Sold
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Eccentrica by Rosenthal Bulgari Sterling Silver Flatware Set 54 pc Modernist Din
By Rosenthal
Located in Big Bend, WI
Scarce Eccentrica by Rosenthal Bulgari modern sterling silver flatware set, 54 pieces. The pieces are large and massively heavy. This set includes: 8 Dinner Knives, 9 7/8" 8 Dinner ...
Sterling Silver
Antique Wide Gold Trim Dinner Service with 22 Dinner Plates, 56 Pieces Total
By Rosenthal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful porcelain set with a floral scroll 24 karat gilt decorated collar and the salad or dessert plates featuring a central medallion. Made and decorated by the Royal Bavarian ...
Gold
Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal China Set Taupe Band Pattern 106 pieces
By Raymond Loewy, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large 106 Piece Set of Modernist "Taupe Band" Pattern China, designed by Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal, German, circa 1950s. The set contains: 12 dinner plates, 9.75" diameter. 12 large soup bowls, 8.75" diameter. 11 lunch plates, 7.5" diameter. 12 bread plates, 6" diameter. 12 dessert bowls, 5" diameter. 16 tea cups, and 21 saucers. 1 gravy boat. Large serving bowl, 10.25" diameter. Pair of oblong plates, 9.75"W. Medium oblong platter, 13"W. Large oblong platter, 15.5"W. Two sugar bowls, one with lid. Creamer. Serving bowl with lid...
Porcelain
Large Set 62 Pcs Fortuna Rosenthal Stemware
By Elsa Fischer-Treyden, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
Incredible 62 piece set of Fortuna glasses, designed by Elsa Fischer - Treyden for Rosenthal, circa 1960's. It would be hard to find a more chic set of drinking glasses...
Glass, Art Glass
Sold
H 9 in W 8.25 in D 4.5 in
Rosenthal Form 2000 White Pattern Dinnerware - Raymond Loewy Set 70 Pcs Germany
By Raymond Loewy, Richard Latham, Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Here we have a 70 piece dinnerware set of the popular Form 2000 in minimalist white from Rosenthal Porcelain that was designed in 1954 by Raymond Loewy for t...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.25 in W 9.75 in D 5.75 in
Rosenthal Germany Continental Chippendale 1930's Coffee Set, 29 Piece
By Rosenthal
Located in Plainview, NY
A charming antique Rosenthal coffee or tea set of 29 pieces made in Bahnof Selb, Germany circa 1930's. Each piece features floral decor on white porc...
Porcelain
Raymond Loewy Set of Dishes Classic Rose/ 74 Pieces Rosenthal, Germany
By Raymond Loewy, Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Raymond Loewy Classic Rose by Rosenthal, Germany. Really nice large set ready to use! Set really looks unused! Set consists of 12 dinner plates 9.75 across 14 salad plates 7.5 across...
Porcelain