Leones Porcelain Vase Set – Javier Mariscal for Rosenthal, 1990s

Complete set of four “Leones” porcelain vases designed by Javier Mariscal for Rosenthal Studio-Line. Their stepped forms become expressive characters through painted faces, profiles, hands, borders, and symbols in red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and black.

• Dimensions:
  • Small vase: H 12.5 cm, W 14.5 cm, D 10 cm
  • Medium vase: H 17 cm, W 16.5 cm, D 11.5 cm
  • Tall vase: H 25.5 cm, W 16.5 cm, D 12 cm
  • Large vase: H 23 cm, 15 cm, D 11.5 cm
• Material: Porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal Studio-Line
• Designer: Javier Mariscal
• Series: Leones
• Color: Matte white with red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and black decoration
• Finish: Matte
• Condition: Very good vintage condition; minor age-related wear and no chips, cracks, or restorations
• Era: Late 1980s–1990s
• Origin: Germany
• Remarks: Complete set of four vases

Displayed together, the four pieces read almost like a small gathering of characters, with each profile and painted detail becoming clearer from a different angle. Their varied heights work well across a long sideboard, large table, mantelpiece, or open shelving system; the individual vases can also be distributed through a room to repeat colour and form.

In a pale, restrained interior, the set introduces humour and colour without overwhelming the space. It is equally at home among postmodern furniture, graphic rugs, vivid wall treatments, contemporary art, and patterned upholstery, where its Mediterranean palette can participate in a richer composition rather than serving as a conventional accent.

For collectors, the principal value lies in finding all four related forms as a coherent group. Together, they offer a more complete account of Mariscal’s “Leones” series and Rosenthal Studio-Line’s engagement with European postmodern design than any single vase could provide.

Javier Mariscal (born 1950) is a Spanish artist and designer known for his work across illustration, furniture, interiors, and visual identity, including Cobi, the mascot of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In the “Leones” series, his loose, narrative drawing style is translated into three-dimensional porcelain characters while retaining the spontaneity of the original linework.