The first Rosenthal company - a factory decorating porcelain,
was started in 1879 in Southern Germany. It was founded by
Philipp Rosenthal in Erkersreuth near Selv, Bavaria. By
1890 the factory moved to Selb.
During the next 10 years the company was expanding extensively
and several factories were opened or taken over. Art departments
for ceramics were established in 1910 and 1920. Following the
foundation of a glassworks in 1920, fruitful co-operation between a
lot of contemporary glassartists and designers began - among those
the Danish artist Bjorn Wiinblad.
Philipp Rosenthal was forced to leave Germany during the war,
being jewish, but Philip Rosenthal (Philipp's son) followed in his
fathers footsteps. The son set new standards for production and
development. He wanted the avantgarde applied in the porcelain
designs. The company has expanded every year ever since. Around
their centenary in 1979, 8500 people were employed by Rosenthal
globally. It is said, that the Rosenthal's successis due to the
father and his sons always paying great attention to marketing
techniques, as well as their big set-up and development of
koncession-shops and studio-departments in the postwar-years.
Co-operating with Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal has
produced several series of plates, in porcelain as well as
in glas. Among others the porcelain plate series
"Aladin", the glass-plate series "The
Parables", the porcelain plate series "Christmas
Carols", the porcelain plate series "Christmas
plates" and the glass plate series "Christmas
plates".
By 1997 Waterford Wedgwood bought the controlling interest in
Rosenthal. Today Rosenthal is an independent member of the
Waterford Wedgwood Holding Group - the worlds biggest
manufacturers of "Table Culture" products.
In 2000 the German porcelain factory Hutschenreuther was bought
by Rosenthal.
Rosenthal
The first Rosenthal company - a factory decorating porcelain,
was started in 1879 in Southern Germany. It was founded by
Philipp Rosenthal in Erkersreuth near Selv, Bavaria. By
1890 the factory moved to Selb, and already the following year a
regular porcelain production was started. Porcelain was an article
in short supply, and it was therefore in great demand.
During the next 10 years the company expanded continuously and
after the turn of the century the company opened or bought several
factories. A lot of things happened, and the company even expanded
beyond the limits of their original field, trying their luck in the
industry of electricity and automobiles. Ceramic art departments
are initiated in 1910 and 1920. Krister Porcelain Factory in
Waldenburg was taken over in 1921 and by 1937 The Porcelain Factory
in Waldershof was bought as well.
Philipp Rosenthal was forced to leave Germany during the war, as
he was jewish, but still the company expanded before, during and
after World War 2. Philip (spelled with one "p"
only in the end) Rosenthal (Philipp's son)
followed in his fathers footsteps, and joined company in 1950. The
son set new standards for production and development. He wanted the
product to be more lively, and broke with the aditional designs of
porcelain. He wanted the avantgarde applied in the porcelain
designs. Products manufactured during those years are considered
legendary.
Following the foundation of a glassworks in 1920, new
possibilities arose, in terms of co-operation and development of a
totally new material. This opened a passage for fruitful
co-operation between a lot of contemporary glassartists and
designers. Starting in 1957 Rosenthal produced series of products
in co-operationwith the Danish artist Bjorn
Wiinblad. These products have become popular worldwide,
especially in USA, Asia and Europe.
During the next years Rosenthal took over a number of small
glassworks and workshops. The production was started in 1960, in
the newly built "Thomas Porcelain Factory" in Speichersdorf. Yet
another factory was taken into use in 1967, when the production
started at the "Rosenthal Porcelain Factory Rothbuhl" in Selb. In
the late 60'ies a new factory for Rosenthal was built in Amberg -
"Rosenthal Glass Factory". It was built by Walter Gropies, one of
the founders of the striking Bauhaus School. Production was started
in 1970. Around their centenary in 1979, 8500 people were employed
with Rosenthal globally.
More factories were bought or built over the years, and many
prominent companies at home and abroad were working with Rosenthal,
in various degrees of cooperation or commissioning, such as Gianni
Versace in Milan or Bulgari in Rome.
It is said, that Rosenthal's big success is due to the father
and his sons always paying great attention to marketing techniques,
as well as their big set-up and development of koncession-shops and
studio-departments in the postwar-years. Finally they presented
"Studio Line" in 1961.
Rosenthal is known today by virtue of their great innovation and
the courage of finding new ways and releasing unusual products,
which become popular in spite of their unusual expression. An
example could be the series of plates produced in cooperation with
Bjoern Wiinblad.
Rosenthal was also renowned for its production of exclusive
porcelain, at times bold, in choice of shapes as well as colours.
Over the years, their co-operation with artists has been daring,
and the artists were given free hands in creation as well as
development.
Co-operating with Bjorn Wiinblad, Rosenthal produced
several series of plates, porcelain as well as glas. Among
others the porcelain plate series "Aladin", the
glass plate series "The Parables", the porcelain
plate series "Christmas Carols", the porcelain
plate series "Christmas plates" and the glass
plate series "Christmas plates". Wiinblad's
designs within Rosenthal were not limited to plates only, but
includes various designs for dinner-, coffee- and tea-sets,
drinking-glasses, candlesticks etc. Among a lot of other things
Wiinblad designed a dinner set to mark the 2500 years anniversary
of the Shah ruling in Iran.
By 1997 Waterford Wedgwood bought the
controlling interest in Rosenthal. Today Rosenthal is an
independent member of the Waterford Wedgwood Holding
Group - the worlds biggest manufacturers of "Table
Culture" products.
In 2000 the German porcelain factory Hutschenreuther is bought
by Rosenthal.