Floral Porcelain Vase & Lidded Box Set - Alain Le Foll and Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1983–1984

A poetic two-piece porcelain set comprising a vase and matching lidded box, combining Alain Le Foll’s botanical decoration with the clear vessel forms associated with Tapio Wirkkala. The glossy white porcelain is animated by a lyrical waterside motif with reeds, leaves, and blossoms in soft green, ochre, lilac, and rose tones. 

• Dimensions:
  
  • Vase: H 18 cm, W 12 cm, D 5 cm
    
  • Lidded box: H 12 cm, Dia. 9.5 cm
    
• Material: Glazed porcelain
  
• Brand: Rosenthal
  
• Designer: Alain Le Foll (decor), Tapio Wirkkala (form)
  
• Color: White with multicolour floral decor
  
• Era: 1980s
  
• Origin: Germany
  
• Condition: Very good vintage condition; no chips, cracks, or restorations. Light signs of age consistent with careful use.
  
• Remarks: Set of two; vase dated 1984, lidded box dated 1983.

This set has a very gentle decorative rhythm. The illustrated floral motif brings softness, while the clean forms keep the overall look composed and modern. It works especially well in interiors that mix natural textures with quieter design pieces — on a bedside table, a shelf with books, or a dining console.

Alain Le Foll (1934–1981) was a French illustrator, painter and lithographer, celebrated for his highly imaginative, nature-inspired worlds that blur the boundaries between mineral, vegetal and animal forms. Trained at the Beaux-Arts in Caen and the Académie Julian in Paris, he worked across press illustration, advertising, children’s books, design and lithography, and from 1962 created décors for Rosenthal porcelain as well as wallpapers for the Zuber manufactory in Alsace. From 1964 to 1981 he taught at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris, where his poetic, meticulously drawn visual language influenced a generation of illustrators.

Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) was one of the most important Finnish designers and sculptors of the 20th century and a major figure of post-war Nordic design. His work for Rosenthal – including the iconic crumpled paper bag vases and the geometric Polygon tableware for the Studio Line – uniquely combined Scandinavian minimalism with German porcelain craftsmanship and is still considered a milestone in the Rosenthal portfolio. Beyond Rosenthal, Wirkkala’s multidisciplinary designs in glass, wood, metal and porcelain for Iittala and others, defined Nordic design with their minimalist, functional yet highly expressive character and are now widely recognized as modern design classics in museum collections worldwide.

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.