Cascade Porcelaine Noire Candleholder Duo – Martin Freyer for Rosenthal, 1970s

A matte black porcelain duo with a flowing relief and gently tapered form. The textured surface gives the candleholders movement and depth, while the dark bisque finish keeps the silhouette precise, calm, and quietly graphic.

• Dimensions: H 17.5 cm, W 8.5 cm, D 8 cm
• Material: Porcelaine Noire bisque porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Martin Freyer
• Color: Matte black
• Era: Mid-century modern, 1970s
• Origin: Germany
• Condition: Very good vintage condition; no chips, cracks, or restorations. Minimal traces of handling consistent with age
• Remarks: Set of two, Cascade model

This pair has a darker, more atmospheric presence than the white version, with the relief reading almost like shadow cut into the surface. Especially effective on travertine, smoked glass, or a pale linen-covered table, where candlelight can soften the black and bring out the rhythm of the form.

Hans Martin Freyer (1909–1975) was a German painter, graphic and industrial designer whose work ranged from architecture and stage design to textiles and product design. Best known to the wider public as the creator of the refined Volkswagen VW logo in 1938, he later worked as a freelance designer of patterns, structures and reliefs. From 1964 to 1974 he designed for Rosenthal, developing sculptural relief decorations for glass and porcelain in the studio-line – most famously the Plissée vases, whose pleated, fabric-like white or black bisque surfaces remain icons of mid-century and Op-Art influenced German porcelain 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.