Bisque Porcelain Vase Duo “Totem” – Ambrogio Pozzi for Rosenthal, 1980s

Monochrome duo from Ambrogio Pozzi’s “Totem” series for Rosenthal Studio-Linie, in matte bisque porcelain with repeating geometric lines that give each piece a calm, sculptural presence. One velvety black vase and two in crisp white play off each other in height and proportion, turning simple columns into quiet design statements.

• Dimensions:
• White vase H 18 cm, W 21 cm, D 8 cm
• Black vase H 15 cm, W 16.5 cm, D 5 cm
• Material: Unglazed bisque porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Ambrogio Pozzi
• Color: Matte white and black
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; no chips, cracks or restorations, light patina from careful display
• Era: 1980s (white vase dated 1986)
• Origin: Germany
  

Perfect in a stripped-back living room on a low board or media unit, flanked by a lamp on one side and a pile of magazines on the other. Keep flowers intentional: one tall branch, a few reed stems or nothing at all; the stepped relief already brings enough rhythm to the scene.

Ambrogio Pozzi (1931–2012) was an Italian industrial designer and ceramist from Varese, trained in Faenza’s ceramic tradition and initially working for his family company, Ceramica Franco Pozzi in Gallarate. From the 1950s onward he created functional yet sculptural designs in ceramics, glass and plastic, collaborating with manufacturers such as Rosenthal, Thomas and ACR; his work is characterised by clear, stackable forms, Nordic-influenced simplicity and refined surface textures, and is now regarded as part of the canon of Italian post-war design.

Rosenthal, founded in 1879 in Selb, Bavaria, is one of Germany’s most important porcelain manufacturers, recognised for combining industrial production with high design standards. With its Studio-Linie programme from the 1960s onwards, Rosenthal invited international artists and designers to create avant-garde forms and décors, making pieces like this set both functional objects and design collectibles.