Have it delivered hassle-freeBuyer protectionAll Designer items curated by WhoppahDownload the Whoppah App – get alerts & sell with ease.
Rosenthal “Manipur” Gold Vase Victor Vasarely “Duo” Form Ambrogio Pozzi 18cm 70s
€399Bid from €360
Buy with confidence
Shop & pay safely with our Buyer ProtectionDesigner items curated by WhoppahWe only pay the seller once you have safely received the itemTrusted payment methods
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Rosenthal Studio-Line “Manipur” Vase by Victor Vasarely on the “Duo” Form by Ambrogio Pozzi – Op Art Porcelain, Germany, 1970s
A rare and visually striking porcelain vase from the celebrated Künstler-Sammel-Serie (“Artists’ Collector Series”) by Rosenthal Studio-Line, featuring the décor “Manipur” by Victor Vasarely applied to the sculptural “Duo” form designed by Ambrogio Pozzi.
This piece represents a remarkable convergence of two major figures of postwar European design: Victor Vasarely, the father of Op Art, and Ambrogio Pozzi, one of Italy’s most sophisticated industrial designers. Produced by Rosenthal Studio-Line during the 1970s, the vase embodies the period’s fascination with optical experimentation, geometry, and the fusion of fine art with industrial porcelain production.
Design & Visual Language
The cylindrical form is wrapped in an intricate rhythmic composition of vertical gold lines that bend, pulse, and expand into optical distortions across the porcelain surface. The resulting visual vibration is unmistakably Vasarely: a controlled play of perception in which flat ornament begins to behave like movement, depth, and kinetic energy.
Depending on the viewing angle and light conditions, the linear structure appears to swell and contract, producing shifting spatial illusions characteristic of Vasarely’s groundbreaking visual research.
The restrained palette — warm gold on luminous white porcelain with a contrasting brown base ring — enhances the graphic precision while lending the object a refined architectural elegance.
Unlike many decorative vases of the era, “Manipur” does not merely decorate the surface; it transforms the vase into an optical field.
Form & Material
The décor is applied to Ambrogio Pozzi’s iconic “Duo” form, a shape distinguished by its softly cylindrical body and subtle asymmetry at the opening. Pozzi’s design language was always characterized by elegant restraint and perfect proportional balance, allowing the artwork applied to the porcelain to remain central without sacrificing sculptural integrity.
Executed in high-quality glossy porcelain by Rosenthal Studio-Line, the vase demonstrates the extraordinary technical precision for which the company became internationally renowned during the Philip Rosenthal era.
Artist & Designer Context
Victor Vasarely (1906–1997) is widely regarded as the founder of Op Art and one of the most influential visual artists of the 20th century. His investigations into geometry, optical movement, and perceptual instability profoundly shaped visual culture across art, architecture, graphic design, and fashion from the 1960s onward.
Rosenthal’s collaboration with Vasarely formed part of the company’s ambitious Künstlerprogramm, through which internationally important artists were invited to work directly with porcelain as an artistic medium.
Ambrogio Pozzi (1931–2012), meanwhile, was among Italy’s leading industrial designers and ceramic innovators. His forms for Rosenthal are celebrated for their sculptural clarity and timeless modernity, perfectly complementing the experimental visual language of artists such as Vasarely.
Details
Artist: Victor Vasarely
Form Designer: Ambrogio Pozzi
Manufacturer: Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany
Series: Künstler-Sammel-Serie
Décor: Manipur
Form: Duo
Material: Porcelain
Finish: Glossy
Colors: Gold, white, brown
Era: 1970s
Style: Op Art / Space Age / Mid-Century Modern
Dimensions
Height: approx. 18 cm
Diameter: approx. 8.5 cm
Marked on the underside:
“Künstler-Sammel-Serie ‘Manipur’ von Victor Vasarely auf der Form ‘Duo’ von Ambrogio Pozzi – Rosenthal studio-linie”
Condition
Very good vintage condition with minor traces of age and use consistent with period. The gold decoration remains exceptionally well preserved. No significant damages such as cracks or repairs observed.
Collector’s Perspective
This vase is highly appealing for collectors of:
– Victor Vasarely and Op Art
– Rosenthal Studio-Line artist collaborations
– Mid-century and Space Age design
– Postwar European porcelain
– Graphic and optical modernism
It functions equally well as a sculptural standalone object or within a curated grouping of modernist ceramics and design pieces.
Its compact dimensions, strong graphic presence, and museum-quality artistic pedigree make it a particularly versatile collector’s object.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please explore our profile for more vintage vases!
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.
Private sale under law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsGold, WhiteMaterialPorcelainNumber of items1BrandRosenthalHeight18 cmWidth8 cmDepth8 cm
Discover more
Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales