Porcelain Vase Duo – Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s

White porcelain vase duo by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio-Linie, pairing a slim ridged cylinder with a rare cross-shaped form that plays with light through the contrast of matte bisque bands and glossy glaze.

• Dimensions:
• Taller vase (3538/20) H 20 cm, W 12 cm, D 10 cm;
• Slim vase (3548/18) H 18 cm, Ø 6 cm
• Material: Fine porcelain, matte bisque and high-gloss glaze
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Tapio Wirkkala
• Color: White
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; no chips, cracks or repairs, glaze bright, bisque sections clean
• Era: 1970s
• Origin: Germany
• Remarks: Marked to base with Rosenthal Studio-Linie, model numbers 3538/20 from 1972 and 3548/18 from 1973; sold as a duo

 For collectors of Tapio Wirkkala and Rosenthal and for calm, design-focused everyday interiors; ideal on a sideboard, shelf or windowsill.

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.