Porcelaine Noire Vase Duo - Jan van der Vaart & Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1980s

Modernist pair in black porcelain: Van der Vaart’s wide-flared vessel (glossy interior, matte exterior) and Wirkkala’s tall cylinder with a ribbed matte collar over a glossy base. Produced by Rosenthal, the duo distills both designers’ rigorous geometry and refined matte/glossy contrasts.

• Dimensions:
  • Vase 1 (Jan van der Vaart): H 20 cm, Dia 14.5 cm
  • Vase 2 (Tapio Wirkkala): H 24 cm, Dia 8.5 cm
• Material: porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal Studio-Line
  Designer: Jan van der Vaart & Tapio Wirkkala
• Color: Black, matte/glossy contrast
• Condition: Excellent vintage; minimal wear, no chips or cracks
• Era: 1980s
• Origin: Germany
  

A standout set for collectors of Rosenthal and European modernist ceramics; equally at home in minimalist, monochrome, or contemporary interiors.

Jan van der Vaart (1931–2000) was a leading Dutch ceramist, known for his strictly geometric, modular vessel forms and for elevating serial, cast pieces to collectible design. As professor at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam he shaped a generation of ceramic artists, and his works are held in major museum collections such as the Stedelijk Museum and Princessehof. 

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.