Iridescent Porcelain Vase Duo – Johan van Loon & Helmut Drexler for Rosenthal, 1990s

Two-piece vase ensemble in fine porcelain, with Johan van Loon’s folded, architectural forms finished in Helmut Drexler’s satin multicolour and eosin iridescent decor in gold, green, violet and bronze tones. Van Loon is known for his fabric-like sculptural ceramics, while Rosenthal Studio Line under Drexler’s surface artistry became a benchmark for avant-garde German porcelain design.

• Dimensions:
  • Low vase ( 4039/16): H 14.5 cm, W 21 cm, D 9 cm
  • Tall vase (4013/26): H 26 cm, W 14 cm, D 10.5 cm
• Material: Fine porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal Studio Line
• Designer: Johan van Loon (form) & Helmut Drexler (decor)
• Color: Multicolour satin and eosin iridescent finish with gold accents
• Condition: Very good vintage condition, minimal age-appropriate signs of use
• Era: tall vase from 1993, low vase from 1994
• Origin: Germany

A refined collector’s duo or statement accent for contemporary, eclectic, or art-focused interiors; ideal on a sideboard, console, or gallery shelf.

Helmut Drexler (1927–2016) was a German porcelain painter and designer who rose from apprentice at Rosenthal in Selb to master painter, then head of the decoration department. From the 1970s onwards he developed experimental surface treatments that transformed porcelain with complex metallic and marbled effects; Goldfeuer was one of his breakthrough décors, first shown at Rosenthal’s 8th Artists’ Days in 1985. By etching the glaze, applying gold in varying thicknesses and firing it under a marbling lacquer, Drexler achieved a controlled play of lilac tones and dense gold veins that has never been convincingly imitated, cementing his reputation as a technical and artistic innovator.

Johan van Loon (1934–2019) was a Dutch ceramic and textile artist trained in textile design in Amsterdam, later turning to experimental ceramics. From 1980 onward he created sculptural, pleated and folded porcelain forms for Rosenthal in Selb, bringing a textile-like, architectural language into their Studio Line collections.

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.