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ROSENTHAL Vase Duo STRUCTURA RIBS Bisque Porcelaine Noire Elsa Fischer-Treyden
€499Bid from €399
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 24 sales
Product description
Rosenthal Studio-Line “Struktura Ribs” Vase Duo
Design by Elsa Fischer-Treyden & Margret Hildebrand
for Rosenthal
Germany, 1970s
Black & White Matte Porcelain
Sculptural Texture, Radical Surface
A striking duality in porcelain: one in deep matte black, the other in velvety white bisque. Together, these two vases from Rosenthal’s Studio-Line series Struktura Ribs embody the radical surface explorations that defined German design in the 1970s.
Their form is compact and architectural — a rounded, almost amphora-like body rising into a subtly narrowed neck. But the true drama lies in the surface: a meticulously structured relief of horizontal ribbing and dense textural modulation. The tactile quality is extraordinary. Light does not simply reflect; it fractures, glides, and dissolves across the ribs.
The black version absorbs light, emphasizing depth and shadow.
The white version reveals every nuance of relief through softness and contrast.
Placed together, they create a dialogue of presence and absence — mass and void, shadow and illumination.
Design Context
During the late 1960s and 1970s, Rosenthal Studio-Line became a laboratory for avant-garde surface experimentation. Moving away from decorative motifs, designers began treating porcelain as sculptural material.
Struktura Ribs belongs to this lineage — where ornament becomes structure and repetition becomes rhythm. The ribbed relief recalls Brutalist tendencies and Op-Art tactility, yet remains unmistakably modernist in restraint.
These pieces are not merely vessels. They are studies in texture and light.
The Designers
Elsa Fischer-Treyden
A significant contributor to Rosenthal’s modernist transformation, Fischer-Treyden worked with relief, repetition, and surface articulation as primary design tools. Her works for Studio-Line reflect a deep engagement with material tactility and sculptural clarity.
Margret Hildebrand
Known for her modern porcelain forms in postwar Germany, Hildebrand emphasized purity of shape combined with subtle structural interventions. Her collaboration within the Studio-Line context contributed to the refined balance between geometry and texture.
Together, their design language helped position Rosenthal as a central figure in European modernist porcelain production.
Details
Series: Struktura Ribs
Manufacturer: Rosenthal Studio-Line
Designers: Elsa Fischer-Treyden & Margret Hildebrand
Origin: Germany
Era: 1970s
Material: Porcelain
Finish: Matte
Black Vase:
Height: 23 cm
Opening diameter: approx. 7 cm
White Vase:
Height: approx. 22.5 cm
Opening diameter: approx. 7 cm
Marked Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany on base.
Condition
Both vases are in excellent vintage condition.
No chips, cracks, or restorations observed.
Minimal signs of age consistent with careful preservation.
Collecting Perspective
Rosenthal Studio-Line pieces from the structured surface period are increasingly appreciated by collectors of:
• German modernism
• Brutalist ceramics
• Minimalist interiors
• Black & white design contrasts
• Textural sculptural objects
The pairing of black and white makes this duo particularly compelling — rarely found together in such balanced condition.
A museum-grade modernist statement, equally powerful together or displayed individually.
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 goodColorsWhiteMaterialPorcelainNumber of items2StyleVintageBrandRosenthalHeight23 cmWidth18 cmDepth18 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 24 sales