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Rare Werner Schreib Bamboo Op-Art Relief Rosenthal Bisque Porcelaine Noire Vase
€360Bid from €299
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Werner Schreib for Rosenthal Studio-Line – “Bamboo” Vase | Porcelaine Noire, Black Matte Porcelain, Germany, 1960s–1970s
An outstanding sculptural porcelain vase designed by Werner Schreib for Rosenthal Studio-Line, executed in the rare and highly sought-after Porcelaine Noire. This piece translates Schreib’s graphic and rhythmic visual language into a deeply tactile, cylindrical form, where repetition, structure, and surface modulation create a powerful architectural presence.
Design & Form
The vase is conceived as a strict vertical cylinder, structured through horizontal bands of alternating relief. Each register introduces a distinct rhythm: fine vertical fluting, punctuated dot sequences, and recessed linear elements that create a layered visual cadence across the surface.
The composition recalls both Op Art and organic modular systems—suggestive of bamboo segments, industrial repetition, or coded ornament. Unlike purely decorative patterning, the relief here is structural: it articulates the body of the vase, guiding light across its surface and reinforcing its sculptural integrity.
The result is a form that oscillates between discipline and sensuality—precise in its geometry, yet animated by subtle shifts of shadow and depth.
Material & Surface
Executed in Rosenthal’s Porcelaine Noire, the vase embodies one of the most important material innovations of late 20th-century porcelain. Unlike surface-applied color, this deep black tone is achieved through pigmentation integrated into the porcelain body itself, requiring highly controlled firing conditions to preserve both structural precision and chromatic depth.
Rosenthal developed and patented proprietary techniques for this process, enabling a uniquely dense, light-absorbing black with remarkable consistency. The matte finish further enhances the sculptural reading of the object, allowing light to glide softly across the relief rather than reflect sharply.
In contrast to white bisque porcelain—where form is revealed through light—Porcelaine Noire operates through absorption and shadow, lending the object a quieter, more monumental presence.
Details
Designer: Werner Schreib
Manufacturer: Rosenthal Studio-Line
Model/Series: “Bamboo” (attributed)
Material: Porcelaine Noire (black porcelain, matte finish)
Color: Black
Origin: Germany
Period: Late 1960s–1970s
Dimensions
Height: approx. 27 cm
Diameter: approx. 6–7 cm
Marked Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany at the base.
Condition
Very good vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or repairs. The matte surface is well preserved, with minimal signs of handling consistent with age.
Designer Context
Werner Schreib (1925–1969) occupies a singular position within postwar German design. Trained as a graphic artist and deeply influenced by experimental printmaking and visual poetry, Schreib approached objects as systems of rhythm, repetition, and coded structure.
His collaboration with Rosenthal Studio-Line in the 1960s represents a moment in which porcelain became a medium for graphic thinking translated into three dimensions. Rather than treating the vessel as a neutral carrier of decoration, Schreib integrated pattern into the very architecture of the form.
His works remain comparatively rare and are increasingly recognized for their intellectual rigor and distinctive visual language within the broader context of mid-century European ceramics.
Design Context
Rosenthal Studio-Line, established as a platform for avant-garde design, brought together leading international artists to redefine porcelain beyond traditional decorative arts. Within this context, Porcelaine Noire marked a radical departure—introducing a material language closer to modern sculpture than classical tableware.
Schreib’s work aligns with contemporaneous explorations of Op Art, seriality, and modular design, yet retains a distinctly personal sensibility—bridging graphic abstraction and tactile objecthood.
Collector’s Perspective
This piece offers:
– A rare Porcelaine Noire design by Werner Schreib
– A strong example of structural relief integrated into form
– A refined cylindrical proportion with architectural presence
– A distinctive alternative to more widely known Studio-Line designers
Particularly compelling for collectors of Op Art ceramics, black porcelain, and experimental mid-century design.
Summary
This vase captures:
– The rhythmic precision of Schreib’s graphic language
– The material innovation of Rosenthal’s Porcelaine Noire
– A balance between serial structure and sculptural presence
An intellectually rigorous and visually striking object—quietly radical, and increasingly collectible.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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International buyers: import duties or taxes, if applicable, are the buyer’s responsibility.
All items are photographed and described with care. Vintage pieces may show minimal traces of age; any significant flaws will be clearly mentioned.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsBlackMaterialPorcelainNumber of items1Height27 cmWidth7 cmDepth7 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales