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.
Soup Tureens from Boch Frères, La Louviere, 1920s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Delicious cream-colored art deco soup tureens with ivory details same height 2 different sizes. H16 the big one 30X26 the small one 27X23
Ceramic
$498 / set
H 5.91 in W 10.63 in D 9.06 in
Art Deco Wilkinson Arthur J. Royal Staffordshire Pottery Pair of Tureens
By Arthur J Wilkinson
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Pretty and refined pair of small serving tureens; they have a well-proportioned, square design typical of Art Deco, graceful and pleasing floral decorations on the lid and body help to lighten the rigidity of the form; the rim and knob are ornamented in pure gold. On the bottom, we find the maker's mark: the famous Arthur J. Wilkinson Firm located on Newport Lane in Burslem, near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire County, an ancient locality famous for the production of pottery and porcelain. From the mark, we can accurately identify the year of production of the two soup tureens: 1947. In 1881 the old Central factories in Burslem passed into the hands of Wilkinson & Hulme; in 1885 Hulme retired from the business and Arthur J. Wilkinson continued alone, AJ Wilkinson...
Pottery
A Pair of Antique Sheffield Covered Vegetable Dishes, c1810
Located in valatie, NY
A Pair of Antique Sheffield Covered Vegetable Dishes, c1810. Two piece antique Sheffield plated vegetable dishes with cover with removable handle. The twist off handle on the cover a...
Silver Plate
$17,327 / set
H 4.73 in W 13.98 in D 7.88 in
Guild of Handicraft, attri. Pair of silver-plated vegetable dishes. C. R. Ashbee
By Charles Robert Ashbee
Located in London, GB
Guild of Handicraft, attributed. A pair of silver-plated vegetable dishes and covers, designed by C. R. Ashbee, c.1900. Oval in form, with ivory finials attached by chain link to fol...
Silver Plate
$700 / set
H 5 in W 8.5 in D 6 in
Pair Antique Wedgwood Creamware Tureens Neoclassical England Circa 1820
By Wedgwood
Located in Katonah, NY
A pair of Wedgwood creamware sauce tureens with original attached underplates and spoons, made circa 1820 in the refined Neoclassical style popular during the Regency era. Each turee...
Creamware
Pair 19th Century Masons ironstone tureens
Located in Martlesham, GB
A pair of 19th Century Masons ironstone tureens of shaped oblong form, featuring scrolled handles and rose-bud finials on the lids. The design...
Porcelain
$1,295 / set
H 6.25 in W 12 in D 8.5 in
19th C English Ironstone Diamond Patent Covered Vegetable Soup Tureen - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C Antique English Ironstone Diamond Patent Covered Vegetable/Soup Serving Tureens - a Pair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 6.25" H x 12" W x 8.5" D.
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,164 / set
H 7.09 in Dm 10.24 in
Victorian English Porcelain Tureens Pair Transferware Decoration And Gilt Accent
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly invite you to read the full description, as we strive to provide detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our pieces. Elegant and refined...
Porcelain
$478 / set
H 2.76 in W 11.03 in D 7.88 in
Lovely pair of quality antique Edwardian silver plated entree dishes
Located in Ipswich, GB
Lovely pair of quality antique Edwardian silver plated entree dishes, having a quality pair of oval shaped entree dishes with removable lids and shaped twin handles to the sides. ...
Silver Plate
Pair of 19th Century French Silver Écuelle by Delaire
By Emile Delaire
Located in London, GB
Pair of 19th century French silver écuelle by Delaire French, c. 1890 Height 13cm, width 31cm, depth 18cm This superb pair of écuelles is crafted in the playful Rococo style popula...
Silver
Pair of Late 19th Century Meissen Vegetable Tureens
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of covered vegetable tureens with gilt scalloped edges (minor wear) by Meissen in the scattered flowers or streublumen pattern. Acanthus gilt handles and twist tops. Crossed swo...
Ceramic
c. 1915-30 Set of 10 Dinner Plates in Rosenthal's "Donatello" Design
By Rosenthal
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1915-30 set of 10 dinner plates, Rosenthal's Donatello design. Art Nouveau-Art Deco. Rare gilt & onyx band decor. One plate with fairly large hairline. Light wear commensurate ...
Porcelain
Circa 1800-1830 Chinese Export Pair of Green Fitzhugh Covered Vegetable Dishes
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1800-1830 Pair of Green Fitzhugh Covered Vegetable Dishes. Crested; etoile over a baton of leaves. Rectangular. Chinese Export porcelain most likely for the American market. On...
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Soup Tureen and Underplate
By Luneville
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A dynamite Luneville open soup tureen and underplate of the mid-19th century, faience. VP mark. Superb condition.
Faience
Pair of "Opaque Granite China" Sweetmeats, circa 1834-54 by William Ridgway
By Ridgway Porcelain
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of "Opaque Granite China" sweetmeats, circa 1834-54 by William Ridgway. Classical urn motifs; molded handles. Cream & white with cobalt highlighted handles & sepia borde...
Ceramic
Circa 1810-1820 Pair of Staffordshire Blue and White Sauciers and Undertrays
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1810-1828 pair of blue & white sauciers & undertrays, English. A charming Staffordshire District pair with quadrepeds motif. By John Richard Riley, Burslem, England, pa...
Creamware
