Rosenthal History | German Porcelain & Design Since 1879

ROSENTHAL BRAND HISTORY

What is Rosenthal?

Rosenthal is a German porcelain and tableware brand founded in 1879 by Philipp Rosenthal at Erkersreuth Castle near Selb, Bavaria. It is known for design-led porcelain made in Germany, the studio-line collections launched in 1961, collaborations with leading architects and artists, and more than 500 international design awards. Since 2009 Rosenthal has been part of Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group).

Founded1879, Erkersreuth Castle near Selb, Bavaria, Germany

FounderPhilipp Rosenthal (1855–1937)

Own factory since1891, Selb

Design brandRosenthal studio-line, launched 1961

Made inSelb and Speichersdorf, Germany

AwardsMore than 500 design awards, reported by Rosenthal

HeadquartersSelb, Bavaria, Germany

OwnerSambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group), since 2009

Why can you trust Rosenthal when you buy porcelain?

Good tableware lasts for years, so trust matters. Rosenthal’s record can be checked on four points: how long it has made porcelain, where it makes it, who designs it, and what independent juries say.

Nearly 150 years of porcelain making

Rosenthal began in 1879 and started producing its own porcelain in 1891. The company still has its headquarters in Selb, in the same Bavarian region where it began.

Porcelain made in Germany

Rosenthal states that its collections are made in its Selb factory and in the Thomas am Kulm factory in Speichersdorf. The Selb site includes the Rosenthal am Rothbühl factory, designed by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius and built in 1967.

A design pedigree few brands match

More than 150 artists and designers have created collections for Rosenthal, including Walter Gropius, Tapio Wirkkala, Björn Wiinblad, Zaha Hadid and Bethan Laura Wood. Design has been part of the business model since studio-line in 1961.

Independent recognition

Rosenthal has been a member of the iF design forum since 1954 and had won 294 iF Awards by 2021. It also reports more than 500 design awards overall, including German Design, Red Dot, Good Design and Green Product awards.

Trusted by professionals as well as households

Rosenthal develops products for private customers and for professional clients in the restaurant and hotel trade, where tableware faces daily, demanding use. The company has also been open about its history, including the forced departure of its founder in 1934 and its 2009 restart under new ownership.

Rosenthal history timeline: key dates from 1879 to today

Each chapter shows how Rosenthal moved from decorating porcelain to shaping how modern tableware looks.

1879

A porcelain-painting studio opens

After working in America, Philipp Rosenthal returns to Germany and sets up a porcelain-painting business at Erkersreuth Castle near Selb. He decorates white porcelain bought from other makers.
1891

Rosenthal makes its own porcelain

White porcelain is in short supply, so Rosenthal builds its own factory in Selb. The move turns a decorating business into a manufacturer.
1908

Thomas joins the company

Rosenthal acquires the Thomas porcelain factory, one of several acquisitions that widen its range and capacity.
1934

The founder is forced out

Philipp Rosenthal is forced to leave the company and Germany because of his Jewish ancestry.
1950–1958

A new generation turns to design

Philip Rosenthal, the founder’s son, joins in 1950 and becomes CEO in 1958. A glassworks department opens in 1950, cutlery production starts in 1958, and a design studio is set up in Selb to centralise product development.
1961

Rosenthal studio-line is created

The studio-line brand sets the course for modern porcelain design, bringing outside architects, artists and designers into the collection. A Studiohaus had opened in Nuremberg the year before.
1967

Gropius builds a porcelain factory

The Rosenthal am Rothbühl factory, designed by Walter Gropius, opens and becomes a landmark of industrial architecture. The TAC range, created with Gropius, becomes one of the most successful porcelain series in the world.
1997–2000

Waterford Wedgwood era

The Waterford Wedgwood Group takes a 90 percent stake in Rosenthal in 1997. In 2000 Rosenthal acquires the Hutschenreuther brand and factory.
2009

A new start in Selb

After insolvency following the collapse of Waterford Wedgwood, Rosenthal is sold to the Italian group Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group). Rosenthal GmbH is formed on 1 August 2009 and keeps its headquarters in Selb.
2016–2021

Awards across the range

Eleven design prizes arrive in 2016 alone. The 2020 German Design Awards and the 2021 iF Award for the Sixty&Twelve vase collection add to the tally.

How Rosenthal porcelain quality shows up in everyday use

Porcelain is made from fine clays fired at very high temperatures. The firing fuses the body into a dense, non-porous material, which is why good porcelain feels thin but resists chips, stains and odours.

Rosenthal controls the whole process from its own German sites. It says its Selb and Speichersdorf factories are among the most advanced in the porcelain industry and that they use resources carefully. Its Sixty&Twelve vases show the range of the craft: sixty shapes in twelve colours, all made from through-dyed porcelain mass.

Because Rosenthal also supplies restaurants and hotels, many of its ranges are designed to cope with frequent service and washing. Still, care rules differ by collection, so always check the product details for dishwasher, microwave and oven guidance.

Rosenthal innovation and design awards: studio-line to today

Rosenthal’s innovation is in how it makes tableware, not only in how it looks. Since 1961 studio-line has brought architects, sculptors and designers into porcelain, from Walter Gropius and Tapio Wirkkala to Zaha Hadid. Rosenthal has been a founding member of the iF design forum since 1954, and independent juries keep recognising the results.

Rosenthal reports more than 500 design awards, including 294 iF Awards as of 2021. The table lists selected examples. For the full and current list, see Rosenthal’s own pages in the sources below.

Selected Rosenthal design awards
Year	Collection	Award
2021	Sixty&TwelveAnniversary collection of 60 vase shapes in 12 colours	iF Design Award, Professional Concept
2020	TongueDesigned by Bethan Laura Wood	German Design Award
2020	Strip vaseDesigned by Zaha Hadid	German Design Award
2016	Nightingale	Red Dot Design Award
2016	Kitchen by Thomas	iF Design Award
2016	Meta, Mitis and Domo	German Design Award
2016	Squall	Good Design Award
2013	FormatDesigned by Christophe de la Fontaine	German Design Award
2012	FormatRosenthal studio-line	iF Gold Award

The red dot marks Red Dot Design Awards. Rosenthal has also won the Green Product Award.

How to buy Rosenthal with confidence

Rosenthal spans classic, studio-line and lifestyle ranges. These checks help you pick well.

Choose the right line. Rosenthal, studio-line and Thomas ranges differ in style and price, so compare collections, not just the brand.
Check the care instructions. Dishwasher, microwave and oven suitability vary by collection and decoration, especially for metallic or hand-applied details.
Look for the backstamp. Genuine pieces carry a Rosenthal mark on the base. For vintage items, use the mark to estimate the age.
Consider a professional range for heavy use. Rosenthal also offers tableware for restaurants and hotels.
Buy from Rosenthal or authorised retailers. This keeps returns, replacements and warranty terms simple.
Plan for replacements. Established ranges are easier to top up over the years than short-run designs.

Rosenthal frequently asked questions

What is Rosenthal known for?

Rosenthal is a German porcelain manufacturer known for design-led tableware. It created the studio-line brand in 1961, has worked with more than 150 artists and designers, and reports more than 500 international design awards, including the iF Award, German Design Award and Red Dot Award.

When and where was Rosenthal founded?

Philipp Rosenthal founded Rosenthal in 1879 as a porcelain-painting business at Erkersreuth Castle near Selb in Bavaria, Germany. In 1891 he opened his own porcelain factory in Selb.

Is Rosenthal good quality porcelain?

Rosenthal is regarded as a premium porcelain brand. Its reputation rests on nearly 150 years of manufacturing, porcelain made in Germany at Selb and Speichersdorf, collaborations with leading designers and a large record of independent design awards. Care and use rules, such as dishwasher and microwave suitability, vary by collection, so check the product details.

Where is Rosenthal porcelain made?

Rosenthal states that its porcelain is made in Germany, at the Rosenthal factory in Selb and the Thomas am Kulm factory in Speichersdorf. The company headquarters are in Selb, Bavaria.

Who owns Rosenthal?

Since 2009 Rosenthal has been owned by the Italian company Sambonet Paderno Industrie, part of the Arcturus Group. Rosenthal GmbH was formed on 1 August 2009 after the company was sold out of insolvency, and its headquarters remain in Selb.

What is Rosenthal studio-line?

Rosenthal studio-line is the design-focused brand Philip Rosenthal launched in 1961. It brings together collections created with well-known architects, artists and designers, and studio-line backstamps indicate production from 1961 onward.

Which design awards has Rosenthal won?

Rosenthal reports more than 500 design awards, including the iF Design Award, German Design Award, Red Dot Award, Good Design Award and Green Product Award. Examples include the Sixty&Twelve vase collection (iF Design Award 2021), the Tongue collection and Zaha Hadid’s Strip vase (German Design Award 2020), and Format by Christophe de la Fontaine (iF Gold Award 2012).

How can I date or identify a Rosenthal piece?

Check the backstamp on the base. Early pieces may carry marks such as Ph.R.&Co. or R.&C. Later pieces often show Rosenthal, Selb Bavaria, Selb-Germany or studio-line. A studio-line mark indicates production from 1961 onward. For valuable pieces, compare the mark with an official Rosenthal mark chronology or ask a specialist.

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