Rosenthal Glasstruktur Glass Vase Duo – Martin Freyer for Rosenthal, 1970s

A striking pair of Rosenthal Studio-Line vases designed by Martin Freyer in the 1970s, made in textured clear glass from the Glasstruktur series. Both pieces have a tall, narrow profile with deeply worked vertical relief that gives the surface a strong rhythm and a rich play of light. The larger 41 cm example adds extra presence, while together the two create a balanced and atmospheric composition.

• Dimensions:
  
  • Taller vase: H 41 cm, W 11.5 cm, D 11.5 cm
    
  • Smaller vase: H 33 cm, W 11.5 cm, D 11.5 cm
    
• Material: Textured glass
  
• Brand: Rosenthal Studio-Line
  
• Designer: Martin Freyer
  
• Color: Clear
  
• Era: Mid-century modern, 1970s
  
• Origin: Germany
  
• Condition: Very good vintage condition; light age-related wear to the surface and base edges. No cracks or structural damage.
  
• Remarks: Set of two; from the Glasstruktur series.

This duo works especially well in interiors that mix clean lines with richer materials. On walnut furniture, against a deep-toned wall, or placed near shifting daylight, the textured glass starts to reveal its full character. The vertical relief brings depth and movement, so even without flowers the pair holds a space beautifully.

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, is best known for its major role in 20th-century German porcelain, but under Philip Rosenthal the company evolved into a much broader design house. With the launch of Rosenthal studio-line in 1961, Rosenthal positioned itself at the forefront of contemporary design and, alongside its famous porcelain and ceramic lines, introduced glass and cutlery as part of a unified modern program. This expansion was not secondary, but central to the brand’s identity, with German glass production anchored by the Amberg glassworks from 1970 onward. Rosenthal’s glass lines from this period share the same design-driven spirit as its porcelain: refined, experimental, and closely tied to leading artists and designers of the time.