Plissée Porcelaine Noire Bowl – Martin Freyer for Rosenthal, 1970s

A matte black porcelain bowl with fine pleated relief and a calm, rounded form. The repeated vertical pattern gives the surface rhythm, while the dark bisque finish absorbs light and sharpens the bowl’s quiet graphic presence.

• Dimensions: H 9 cm, Dia. 14.5 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 signs of handling consistent with age
• Remarks: Plissée series

This bowl has a very controlled presence, with just enough texture to keep the black surface alive. It works especially well on lighter stone, parchment tones, or dark lacquer, where the pleated relief can read clearly and bring a sharper visual rhythm to the setting

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.