Porcelain Vase Duo – Johan van Loon for Rosenthal, 1980s

Pair of matte white porcelain vases by Dutch designer Johan van Loon for Rosenthal Studio Linie, each with gently flowing silhouettes and fine horizontal striations that catch the light. Their soft, asymmetric crests and dune-like contours give a calm, graphic presence from every angle.

• Dimensions:
  • Pillow-shaped vase: H 18.5 cm, W 19 cm, D 7 cm
  • Second vase: H 18 cm, W 21 cm, D 7 cm
• Material: Fine porcelain, matte exterior, glazed interior
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Johan van Loon
• Color: White
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; no chips, cracks or repairs, only minor patina from careful display
• Era: 1980s
• Origin: Germany
• Remarks: Shape Nr. 3724/18, shape Nr. 3725/18

Treat them like a small wall relief you can move around: they’re quite flat, so they sit beautifully on a console, sideboard, mantel or narrow shelf without eating up depth. Place them in front of a darker wall or a framed artwork and let side light – from a nearby window or slim table lamp – rake across the fine lines so the porcelain almost turns translucent.

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.