Skip to content
0800 222 021

Thomas History

Thomas by Rosenthal brand history

Thomas by Rosenthal history: colourful German porcelain for everyday life, since 1903

From a porcelain factory in Marktredwitz to Sunny Day, Loft and award-winning Kitchen by Thomas. Here is how Thomas became one of Germany’s best-known names in design-led everyday tableware..

What is Thomas by Rosenthal?

Thomas is a German porcelain and tableware brand founded in 1903 by Fritz Thomas in Marktredwitz, Upper Franconia, and part of Rosenthal since 1908. It is known for design-led, uncomplicated everyday crockery, including the Trend, Sunny Day and Loft by Rosenthal collections and the award-winning Kitchen by Thomas accessories. Its collections are made in Germany at Rosenthal’s plants in Selb and Speichersdorf.

Founded1903, Marktredwitz, Upper Franconia, Bavaria
FounderFritz Thomas
Part of RosenthalSince 1908
ProductionThomas am Kulm, Speichersdorf, since 1960, and Rosenthal am Rothbühl, Selb
Best-known rangesTrend, Sunny Day, Loft by Rosenthal, ONO and Clay
MaterialsPorcelain and stoneware
Design partnersQueensberry Hunt, Office for Product Design, architect Marcello Morandini
OwnerRosenthal GmbH, part of Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group), since 2009

Why can you trust Thomas when you buy tableware?

Everyday plates and bowls are used and washed constantly, so dependability matters. Thomas’s record can be checked on five points.

More than 120 years of history

Thomas was founded in 1903 and celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2023. Since 1908 it has been part of Rosenthal, one of Germany’s oldest porcelain companies.

Made in Germany

Thomas says its collections are made in Germany at Rosenthal am Rothbühl in Selb and Thomas am Kulm in Speichersdorf. It describes the two plants as among the most modern in the porcelain industry.

Design that is tested by juries

Kitchen by Thomas has won the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award and a German Design Award, and the ONO collection won the Green Product Award. Thomas describes itself as a winner of numerous international design awards.

Bestsellers that stayed popular

Thomas says its Trend, Sunny Day and Loft by Rosenthal series are among the best-selling porcelain series worldwide. Long-running popularity is a practical sign that a design works in real kitchens.

Responsible production and a clear owner

Rosenthal’s Selb and Speichersdorf sites were certified by TÜV SÜD for an energy management system under ISO 50001, and the company says it produces in a way that conserves resources. Thomas belongs to Rosenthal GmbH, which has been part of Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group) since 2009, so ownership and service are easy to trace.

Why Thomas is one of the most innovative tableware brands

Thomas has repeatedly changed how everyday porcelain looks and is used: from young, colourful design in the 1950s to a factory with an architect’s facade, colour-coordinated ranges and a full system of kitchen accessories. These are the ideas that define it.

Porcelain for young, design-minded homes1950s onward

From the 1950s Thomas positioned itself as the German porcelain brand for young, design-oriented and uncomplicated crockery. Until the 1980s many collections drew on Scandinavian design.

A factory as a design statement1960

Production moved to the newly built Thomas am Kulm plant in Speichersdorf, whose facade was designed with geometric patterns by the Italian architect Marcello Morandini.

Sunny Day: colour on the tableColour collection

Sunny Day brought colour to the table, and the collection has grown steadily with new colours and pieces. It is one of the Thomas series that the brand counts among the best-selling porcelain ranges worldwide.

Trend and Loft with Queensberry HuntTrend, 2001 Loft

The Trend and Loft collections were created with the London design studio Queensberry Hunt, making Thomas a leading trend brand among international porcelain makers. Loft launched in 2001 with a grooved design and is now known as Loft by Rosenthal.

Everyday pieces that became icons1999

The Amici pasta dish, launched in 1999, became a Thomas top seller. It shows how a single well-judged piece can change how people serve and eat.

Kitchen by Thomas: a system of accessories2015–2016

Kitchen by Thomas is a collection of about 40 accessories that combine with every Thomas porcelain series, from decanters and aroma-sealed containers to a lemon press and two-piece bowls. It mixes porcelain, glass, metal, wood and silicone, and was the result of a three-year collaboration with Office for Product Design.

ONO: recognised for sustainability2016

The ONO series launched in 2016 and immediately won the international Green Product Award. It reflects Thomas’s focus on resource-conscious design and production.

Thomas history timeline: key dates from 1903 to today

More than a century of porcelain, from a Bavarian factory to a global design brand.

  1. Fritz Thomas founds the factory

    Fritz Thomas establishes his porcelain factory in Marktredwitz, Upper Franconia. The foundation stone is laid in June, and early records show the firm as Thomas & Ens.

  2. Rosenthal takes over

    Rosenthal acquires the Thomas factory in Marktredwitz. Fritz Thomas stays on as managing director for several years.

  3. A brand for young, design-minded customers

    Thomas develops into a brand for young, design-oriented and uncomplicated crockery.

  4. Thomas am Kulm opens in Speichersdorf

    Production moves from Marktredwitz to the new Thomas am Kulm plant, with a facade by architect Marcello Morandini.

  5. The Amici pasta dish

    The Amici pasta dish becomes one of the brand’s top sellers.

  6. Loft launches

    Thomas introduces the Loft range, designed by Queensberry Hunt.

  7. A new owner for Rosenthal and Thomas

    The Arcturus group takes over Rosenthal, Thomas and Hutschenreuther and establishes Rosenthal GmbH.

  8. Kitchen by Thomas wins awards, Loft becomes Loft by Rosenthal

    Kitchen by Thomas begins its run of design awards. The grooved Loft collection is one of Rosenthal GmbH’s most popular series worldwide and is now presented as Loft by Rosenthal.

  9. iF Design Award and the ONO series

    Kitchen by Thomas wins an iF Design Award, and the new ONO series wins the Green Product Award.

  10. 120 years of Thomas

    The brand celebrates its 120th anniversary, known for functional, simple design for everyday use.

What makes Thomas porcelain high quality?

Porcelain is made from fine clays fired at very high temperatures, which produces a dense, non-porous body. That is why good porcelain feels light but resists chips, stains and odours, and why it suits everyday use.

Thomas makes its porcelain in the same German plants as Rosenthal, where traditional craft meets modern production technology. Its range covers both porcelain and stoneware, and its colour and accessory collections are designed to be combined, so you can build a table setting over time.

Care and use rules differ by collection, finish and colour. Always check the product page for guidance on dishwasher, microwave and oven use.

Thomas design awards and recognition

Thomas is part of Rosenthal, which reports more than 500 design awards across its brands. The table lists recognition earned by Thomas collections themselves.

Selected Thomas design awards
Year Collection Award
2016 ONOLaunched in 2016 Green Product Award
2016 Kitchen by ThomasDesigned by Office for Product Design with Johanna Kleinert iF Design Award
2015 Kitchen by Thomas Red Dot Design Award
Archive Kitchen by ThomasTabletop category German Design Award: Winner, Excellent Product Design

The red dot marks Red Dot Design Awards. The Red Dot jury said the Kitchen by Thomas collection owes its self-contained look to a trend-conscious design concept, and praised its combination of materials.

How to buy Thomas tableware with confidence

Thomas offers classic white, bright colours and stoneware looks. These checks help you choose.

  • Pick a collection that fits your style. Trend and Loft by Rosenthal suit clean, modern tables, while Sunny Day adds colour.
  • Think about mixing. Thomas collections are designed to be combined, and Kitchen by Thomas accessories fit every porcelain series.
  • Check the material. Decide between porcelain and stoneware, which differ in feel and look.
  • Read the care instructions. Dishwasher, microwave and oven suitability vary by collection and finish.
  • Check availability of extra pieces. Established collections make it easier to add or replace items later.
  • Check the country of origin. Collections are made in Germany, but origin can vary by product, especially accessories.
  • Buy from Rosenthal, Thomas or authorised retailers. This keeps returns and support simple.

Thomas by Rosenthal frequently asked questions

What is Thomas by Rosenthal?

Thomas is a German porcelain and tableware brand founded in 1903 by Fritz Thomas in Marktredwitz, Upper Franconia. It has belonged to Rosenthal since 1908 and is known for design-led, uncomplicated everyday crockery such as the Trend, Sunny Day and Loft by Rosenthal collections.

When and where was Thomas founded?

Fritz Thomas founded the Thomas porcelain factory in Marktredwitz, in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, in 1903. Rosenthal took over the company in 1908, and in 1960 production moved to the newly built Thomas am Kulm plant in Speichersdorf.

Is Thomas porcelain good quality?

Thomas is regarded as a dependable German brand for everyday porcelain. Its reputation rests on more than 120 years of history, production in Rosenthal’s German plants in Selb and Speichersdorf, collections developed with respected design studios and several international design awards. Care and use details vary by collection, so check the product page.

Where is Thomas porcelain made?

According to Thomas, its collections are made in Germany at the Rosenthal am Rothbühl factory in Selb and the Thomas am Kulm factory in Speichersdorf. Country of origin can vary by product, especially for accessories, so check the label or product page.

What are the most popular Thomas collections?

Thomas says its Trend, Sunny Day and Loft by Rosenthal series are among the best-selling porcelain series in the world. Other well-known ranges include ONO, launched in 2016, the Clay collection and the Kitchen by Thomas accessories.

What is the difference between Thomas and Rosenthal?

Thomas is a brand within Rosenthal. Rosenthal GmbH owns and makes Thomas, which focuses on design-oriented, uncomplicated everyday tableware, while the wider Rosenthal portfolio includes studio-line collections created with well-known designers and artists.

Who owns Thomas?

Thomas is owned by Rosenthal GmbH, which was formed on 1 August 2009 as part of Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group). Rosenthal has owned Thomas since 1908.

Which design awards has Thomas won?

Kitchen by Thomas has won the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award 2016 and a German Design Award in the Excellent Product Design, Tabletop category. The ONO collection won the international Green Product Award after its 2016 launch.

What is Loft by Rosenthal?

Loft was launched by Thomas in 2001 in a grooved design by Queensberry Hunt. It became one of Rosenthal GmbH’s most popular series worldwide, and since 2015 the collection has been communicated as Loft by Rosenthal.

Sources