Vases & Candle Holders Ensemble – Sami Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1982–1983

White porcelain ensemble consisting of two vases and a pair of candle holders, designed by Sami Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio-Line. The series combines clean geometric forms with softly curved contours and a refined contrast of matte and glossy surfaces, reflecting Sami Wirkkala’s Nordic design heritage and Rosenthal’s strong 1980s design program.

• Dimensions:
  • Vase 1: H 23 cm, W 16.5 cm, D 7.5 cm
  • Vase 2: H 18 cm, W 17 cm, D 8 cm
  • Candle holders (each): H 7 cm, W 12 cm, D 7 cm
• Material: Porcelain
• Brand: Rosenthal Studio-Line
• Designer: Sami Wirkkala
• Color: White
• Condition: Very good vintage condition
• Era: 1982–1983
• Origin: Germany
• Remarks: Set of four pieces.

A strong set for collectors, but also very usable in everyday interiors. It works especially well on a dining table, sideboard, or console, styled as a group with tall branches in the larger vase, shorter stems in the smaller one, and candles to add warmth to minimal, modern, or Mid-Century spaces.

Sami Wirkkala (born 1948) is a Finnish interior and industrial designer who developed his work within the Nordic modern tradition while establishing a quieter, more reduced language of his own. For Rosenthal, where he worked from 1978, he created porcelain objects defined by disciplined geometry, soft curvature, and minimal ornamentation, translating Scandinavian restraint into refined German-made Studio-Line design.

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.