Beautiful dinnerware turns a weeknight meal into an occasion. This guide from Michael Joyce, the official New Zealand distributor for Rosenthal and Thomas by Rosenthal, helps you choose between Rosenthal Junto and Thomas Loft, pick the right plate sizes and colours, care for German porcelain, and layer a table setting like a stylist, whether it's a Tuesday tea or Christmas lunch on the deck.

Rosenthal and Thomas: who makes them?

Rosenthal is a German porcelain maker founded in 1879 in Selb, Bavaria, famous for working with leading artists and designers. Thomas was founded in 1903 by Fritz Thomas in Marktredwitz, Bavaria, and joined Rosenthal in 1908. Since the 1950s Thomas has been Rosenthal's brand for modern, design-led and uncomplicated everyday dinnerware. Today Thomas collections are made in Germany at Rosenthal's porcelain factories in Selb and Speichersdorf.

Think of them as siblings: Rosenthal for statement pieces and special occasions, Thomas for the dinnerware you reach for every day. Same German porcelain know-how, different personalities.

Rosenthal Junto vs Thomas Loft: which should you choose?

Rosenthal Junto: hand-glazed and full of character

Rosenthal Junto is finished with a specially developed colour glaze that flows over a subtle diamond relief in the porcelain. Where the glaze pools thicker or thinner, it creates light and dark tones, so every Junto plate, bowl and mug has its own colour flow and a handcrafted, organic feel. It's designed to mix and match, and the larger platters and 33 cm bowls make spectacular serving pieces.

Thomas Loft: fine rings, relaxed style

Thomas Loft was designed by the London studio Queensberry Hunt and launched in 2001. Its signature is a fine-ribbed surface of concentric rings. On the coloured pieces, the glaze settles thicker and thinner over those ribs, so each piece fires with slightly different shading and a handmade look. Loft is lighter on the wallet, which makes it ideal for busy family kitchens, first homes and building a set over time.

Prices in NZD at the time of writing and subject to change.

Choosing Rosenthal Junto and Thomas Loft colours

Rosenthal Junto colours

• White
• Opal Green
• Pearl Grey
• Ocean Blue

Thomas Loft colours

• White
• Moss Green
• Night Blue
• Ice Blue
• Moon Grey

Kiwi colour tips: blues (Junto Ocean Blue, Loft Night Blue and Ice Blue) echo the sea and suit coastal homes and summer entertaining. Greens (Junto Opal Green, Loft Moss Green) bring the bush to the table and look stunning with fresh herbs and native foliage. Greys (Junto Pearl Grey, Loft Moon Grey) are calm, modern neutrals that work with timber, concrete and stone benchtops. White is the anchor: buy white as your base and add colour on top.

Rosenthal Junto

Ocean Blue Plate 22cm

Deep sea blue with flowing glaze.

Rosenthal Junto

Opal Green Plate 22cm

Soft, earthy green.

Thomas Loft

Moss Green Plate 28cm

Natural green with fine rings.

Thomas Loft

Night Blue Plate 28cm

Inky blue for dramatic tables.

Plate sizes explained: what each piece is for

Dinner sets: what's included and how many pieces you need

Both the Rosenthal Junto White Dinner Set and the Thomas Loft Dinner Sets are 16 pieces and serve four people:

How many should you buy? Most New Zealand households buy for their family size plus guests. A family of four that entertains often is well served by two sets (eight place settings). Start with one white set, then add a second set or loose pieces in colour so you can layer and mix.

How to layer a table setting: 6 stylist rules

Layering means stacking plates of different sizes, colours and textures at each place. It adds depth, makes the table feel generous, and lets you get more looks from fewer pieces.

1. Go big to small. Start with the largest plate (a Junto 32 cm or Loft 28 cm), then a 22 cm plate, then a bowl or deep plate on top.
2. Leave a visible rim. Each layer should be about 4 to 6 cm smaller than the one below so every rim shows. Junto 32 → 27 → 22, or Loft 28 → 22 → 15.
3. Anchor with white. A white base keeps the table fresh and lets colour do the talking on the middle or top layer.
4. Use two colours, three at most. One neutral plus one or two colours looks deliberate. Pair tones from the same family (Ocean Blue with Ice Blue) or contrast (Night Blue with White).
5. Mix textures. Rosenthal Junto's diamond relief and Thomas Loft's fine rings sit beautifully together because both are Rosenthal porcelain with a similar soft glaze.
6. Finish the setting. Forks on the left, knife (blade facing in) and spoon on the right, glass above the knife, bread plate top left, napkin on top of the stack or beside the forks.

4 layered table settings to copy

Each diagram shows the plate stack to scale from above, so you can see how the rims frame each other. Glasses and bread plates are simplified.

Caring for Rosenthal and Thomas porcelain

• Dishwasher and microwave safe: Rosenthal Junto and Thomas Loft can both go in the dishwasher and microwave.
• Load with space: stack plates in the dishwasher so they don't knock together, which helps prevent chips on rims.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes: don't move porcelain straight from the fridge into a hot oven or pour boiling liquid into a cold dish.
• Cutlery marks: grey lines from knives and forks can appear on any glazed porcelain. They usually lift with a gentle cream cleanser or a paste of baking soda and water.
• Stacking for storage: place a paper napkin or felt pad between coloured plates to protect the glaze.

Every Rosenthal and Thomas warranty claim in New Zealand is handled locally by Michael Joyce Ltd. See our warranty page.

Rosenthal and Thomas dinnerware FAQs