Vase & Bowl Duo “Century / New Wave” – Tapio Wirkkala & Dorothy Hafner for Rosenthal, 1980s

Postmodern Rosenthal duo combining Tapio Wirkkala’s soft, flaring forms with Dorothy Hafner’s graphic “Century / New Wave” décor in pastel tones on white glazed porcelain. The wide bowl and low vase share the same rhythmic relief and playful line work, giving the set a strong, design-led presence on any table or sideboard.

• Dimensions:
  • Vase H 16.5 cm, Dia 23.5 cm 
  • Bowl H 6.5 cm, Dia 30 cm
• Material: Glazed porcelain with fine relief texture
• Brand: Rosenthal
• Designer: Tapio Wirkkala (form) & Dorothy Hafner (decor)
• Color: White ground with multicolour pastel and black graphic pattern
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; no chips, cracks or repairs, only minimal signs of use
• Era: 1980s
• Origin: Germany
  

Ideal as a statement set on a dining table, kitchen island or large coffee table: use the bowl as a fruit centrepiece or leave it empty so the pattern reads clearly from above, and place the vase slightly off-centre with just a few simple stems in one colour (white blooms, greenery, or branches). 

Dorothy Hafner (b. 1952) is an American ceramist and glass artist whose bold, postmodern geometric pattern language turned functional tableware into collectible design. After founding Art in Dining and creating lines for major firms (including Tiffany & Co.), she began collaborating with Rosenthal in 1982, becoming best known for the “Flash” dinnerware series—widely regarded as her signature porcelain work.

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.