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Rosenthal Meets Versace History

Rosenthal meets Versace


Rosenthal meets Versace: where German porcelain meets Italian fashion, since 1992

Gianni Versace wanted to bring his lifestyle to the table, and found the ideal partner in Rosenthal. Three decades on, Medusa, Baroque and gold-rich designs are still made on Rosenthal porcelain.

What is Rosenthal meets Versace?

Rosenthal meets Versace is a luxury tableware and home collection created through the collaboration between German porcelain maker Rosenthal and the Milanese fashion house Versace. It began in 1992 under Gianni Versace, debuted with the Medusa collection in 1993, and brings Versace’s iconic prints, such as Medusa and Baroque designs, to porcelain, glass, cutlery and more.

PartnersRosenthal (Selb, Germany, founded 1879) and Versace (Milan)
Collaboration began1992, under Gianni Versace
First collectionMedusa, 1993
Second collectionBarocco, 1994, in black and gold
Continued byDonatella Versace, after Gianni Versace’s death in 1997
Anniversary editions25 pieces in 2018; 30 mugs in 2023
RangePorcelain, glass, cutlery, candles, mugs, gifts and children’s tableware
Made byRosenthal, which says its porcelain is made in Germany

Why can you trust Rosenthal meets Versace when you buy?

A luxury collaboration should rest on real craftsmanship and continuity, not only on a famous name. Here are five points you can verify.

More than 30 years of partnership

The collaboration began in 1992 and celebrated its 25th and 30th anniversaries with limited editions. Few fashion–porcelain partnerships last this long, and it has kept evolving.

Rosenthal’s porcelain craftsmanship

Rosenthal has made porcelain since 1879 and says its porcelain is made in Germany. It brings the same experience to Versace designs that it brings to its own collections.

Design continuity from Gianni to Donatella

Gianni Versace set the direction and personally designed motifs such as the Baroque in Vanity. Donatella Versace continued the work, extending the lines and reinterpreting classic motifs so they stay current.

A coherent world, not a one-off

Versace’s motifs run across porcelain, glass series like Medusa Lumière and Méandre, Medusa Gold cutlery and scented candles, so pieces can be mixed into a complete, matching table.

Collectable, documented editions

Anniversary editions are clearly defined: 25 plates and tea cups in 2018, each with a different historic design, and 30 mugs with 30 décors in 2023. Clear edition sizes and named collections make it easier to verify what you are buying.

How Rosenthal meets Versace pioneered fashion on the table

Gianni Versace was one of the first designers to understand the value of a full lifestyle brand, and Rosenthal was a partner with a long record of working with artists and designers. Together they made the fashion house’s visual codes work on porcelain.

Fashion codes, translated to porcelain1993

The Medusa collection put the legendary Medusa head, chosen by Gianni Versace for its mythological meaning, onto a tea and dinner service in the rich, colour-intense style of the house.

Opulence as a design statement1994

Barocco turned away from purism with sumptuous baroque patterns in black and gold and Versace’s characteristic rocaille. It showed how a fashion house’s love of baroque could define a whole table.

Beyond porcelainGlass, cutlery, candles

The world of Rosenthal meets Versace grew to include the glass series Medusa Lumière and Méandre, the Medusa Gold cutlery collection and, in 2019, eight scented candles that pay homage to the brand’s historic motifs.

Limited editions as storytelling2018 and 2023

For the 25th anniversary, 25 plates and tea cups each carried a different legendary design. The 30th brought 30 mugs with 30 décors and lids topped with a golden Medusa head, a journey through time and cultures.

Reinterpreting the archiveDonatella Versace

Since 1997 the motifs have been kept fresh. Donatella Versace extended the lines and gave many inimitable decors a new interpretation, including the 2018 La Scala del Palazzo pattern inspired by the marble staircase at Palazzo Versace in Milan.

New audiencesRecent years

More recently the collaboration introduced children’s tableware in Barocco Rose, Barocco Blue and Medusa Gala, plus baby picture frames in bilaminated silver, taking the Versace look to a new generation.

Rosenthal meets Versace timeline: key dates from 1992 to today

More than three decades of shared design, in order.

  1. Rosenthal is founded

    Philipp Rosenthal starts the porcelain business in Selb that will later become Rosenthal’s global design company.

  2. The collaboration begins

    Under the leadership of Gianni Versace, Versace and Rosenthal begin working together to bring the Versace lifestyle into the home.

  3. Medusa, the first collection

    The first Rosenthal meets Versace collection debuts, featuring the Medusa head and Versace’s colour-rich world.

  4. Barocco

    The Barocco service introduces baroque patterns in black and gold, revealing Gianni Versace’s love of the Baroque.

  5. Donatella Versace carries the work forward

    After Gianni Versace’s death, his sister Donatella continues the collaboration, adding designs with floral motifs while keeping his iconic motifs at the heart of the aesthetic.

  6. Medusa Blu

    Classic Versace iconography returns in a mix of Baroque and classic styles, bright colours and gold, culminating in the head of Medusa.

  7. 25 years, Medusa Silver and La Scala del Palazzo

    Rosenthal meets Versace celebrates with 25 commemorative plates and tea cups, a Medusa Silver tea set and the new La Scala del Palazzo pattern, plus an installation at the Versace boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris.

  8. Scented candles

    Eight scented candles in natural wax pay homage to historic Versace motifs, extending the collection into home fragrance.

  9. 30 years, 30 mugs

    A limited edition of 30 mugs with 30 legendary décors, each lid topped with a golden Medusa head, marks three decades of partnership.

Famous Rosenthal meets Versace collections and patterns

These are the collections most often mentioned in the collaboration’s history, with what sets each apart.

Key Rosenthal meets Versace collections
Collection Year What to know
Medusa 1993 The first collection, with the Medusa head in a rich, colour-intense style
Barocco 1994 Baroque patterns in black and gold with Versace’s rocaille
Medusa Blu 2001 Baroque and classic styles, bright colours and gold, ending in the Medusa head
Medusa Silver 2018 Special-edition tea set with the Medusa symbol in silver for the 25th anniversary
La Scala del Palazzo 2018 Inspired by the marble staircase at Palazzo Versace in Milan
Medusa Lumière and Méandre Glass Two glass series that complete the table with colour and elegance
Medusa Gold Cutlery Cutlery collection matching the Medusa decors

More designs include: Vanity, with a Baroque motif designed by Gianni Versace himself; Le Jardin de Versace, an enchanted garden in delicate pastel colours; Les Étoiles de la Mer; I Baroque; Medusa Gala; Gorgona in white and gold; and children’s sets in Barocco Rose and Barocco Blue.

What makes Rosenthal meets Versace pieces high quality?

Porcelain is made from fine clays fired at very high temperatures, which gives a dense, non-porous body that is fine to the touch yet durable. Rosenthal’s experience with decorated porcelain, including work with artists and designers since 1961, is what lets Versace’s detailed motifs reproduce crisply.

The decoration is central. Gold accents, baroque flourishes and Medusa heads are part of the design, and on special pieces such as the anniversary mugs the golden Medusa appears on the lid. Decorative gold and metallic details usually call for gentle care.

Care rules vary by collection and decoration. Always follow the product instructions for washing, microwave use and storage, especially for gold or platinum details.

How to buy Rosenthal meets Versace with confidence

These checks help you choose well and avoid problems, especially with limited or vintage pieces.

  • Choose by collection name. Medusa, Barocco, Medusa Blu and Gorgona each have a different mood, so look at the pattern name, not just the brand.
  • Buy from authorised sellers. Use Rosenthal, Versace or authorised retailers for new pieces to be sure of authenticity and support.
  • Check the backstamp and labels. Genuine pieces carry Rosenthal and Versace marks, and some vintage pieces carry a 1990s Versace logo label.
  • Confirm edition details. For limited editions, check the edition size and year, such as the 25-piece 2018 set or the 30-mug 2023 set.
  • Read the care instructions. Gold and metallic decoration often need gentle washing, and microwave suitability varies by piece.
  • Plan a matching table. Combine porcelain with Medusa Lumière or Méandre glass and Medusa Gold cutlery for a coordinated look.
  • For vintage, ask for photos. Request clear images of marks, decoration and any wear before you buy.

Rosenthal meets Versace frequently asked questions

What is Rosenthal meets Versace?

Rosenthal meets Versace is a luxury tableware and home collection created through the collaboration between the German porcelain maker Rosenthal and the Milanese fashion house Versace. It brings Versace’s iconic prints and motifs, such as Medusa and Baroque designs, to porcelain, glass, cutlery and other home items.

When did Rosenthal and Versace start working together?

The collaboration began in 1992 under the creative direction of Gianni Versace. The first collection, Medusa, debuted in 1993, followed in 1994 by Barocco.

What was the first Rosenthal meets Versace collection?

The first collection was Medusa, launched in 1993. It featured the Medusa head, which Gianni Versace chose for its mythological meaning, in the rich, colour-intense style associated with Versace.

Who designs Rosenthal meets Versace?

Gianni Versace led the collaboration from 1992. After his death in 1997, his sister Donatella Versace continued it, extending the lines and reinterpreting many classic motifs so that they stay contemporary. Rosenthal develops and produces the porcelain.

What are the most famous Rosenthal meets Versace patterns?

Well-known designs include Medusa (1993), Barocco (1994), Medusa Blu (2001), Medusa Silver and La Scala del Palazzo (both 2018), Vanity, Le Jardin de Versace, Les Étoiles de la Mer, Gorgona and Medusa Gala. Many feature Medusa, Baroque flourishes or gold details.

Is Rosenthal meets Versace good quality?

Rosenthal meets Versace pairs Rosenthal’s porcelain craftsmanship, which dates back to 1879, with Versace’s design. Rosenthal says its porcelain is made in Germany. As with any decorated porcelain, care needs differ by collection, so follow the product instructions, especially for gold or metallic decoration.

What does the collection include besides plates and cups?

The range goes beyond dinnerware. It includes glass series such as Medusa Lumière and Méandre, the Medusa Gold cutlery collection, scented candles, mugs, gifts and children’s tableware in designs such as Barocco Rose, Barocco Blue and Medusa Gala.

What are the limited-edition Rosenthal meets Versace collections?

For the 25th anniversary in 2018, Rosenthal meets Versace issued 25 plates and tea cups, each with a different historic design. For the 30th anniversary in 2023 it released 30 limited-edition mugs with 30 legendary décors and lids topped with a golden Medusa head.

How do I buy Rosenthal meets Versace with confidence?

Buy from Rosenthal, Versace or authorised retailers, check the collection name and backstamp, and read the care instructions for gold or metallic decoration. For vintage or limited pieces, ask the seller for photos of the marks and confirm the edition details.

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