Porcelain Vase Trio – Johan van Loon & Helmut Drexler for Rosenthal, 1980/90s

Porcelain set with van Loon’s folded, undulating silhouettes finished in Drexler’s satin-iridescent glaze shifting through violet, gold and green. Produced by Rosenthal Studio-Linie, the brand’s art-led line known for collaborations with leading European designers.

• Dimensions:
  • Large: H 21.5 cm, W 14 cm, D 8 cm
  • Medium: H 18.5 cm, W 9.5 cm, D 6 cm
  • Small (wide): H 17 cm, W 16 cm, D 10 cm
• Material: Fine porcelain with satin iridescent glaze
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Forms by Johan van Loon; decor by Helmut Drexler
• Color: Multicolour - violet, gold, rose and soft green with metallic sheen; white glazed interiors
• Condition: Excellent vintage; minimal signs of age, no chips or cracks
• Era: 1980/90s
• Origin: Germany
  

Collectible studio-level Rosenthal for design lovers; striking on a console or dining sideboard in contemporary & eclectic interiors.

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.