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XL Rosenthal Studio-Line “Op Art” Floor Vase Martin Freyer H 43 cm Op-Art Relief
€399Bid from €299
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Rosenthal Studio-Line “Op Art” Vase Model 2933 – Martin Freyer for Rosenthal
White Bisque Porcelain Sculptural Floor Vase, Germany, 1992
An exceptionally striking sculptural porcelain vase designed by Martin Freyer for Rosenthal Studio-Line, model 2933, produced in Germany in 1992.
Standing an impressive 43 cm high, the piece belongs to Rosenthal’s important late modernist period, during which the Studio-Line division collaborated with artists, architects, and designers to push porcelain beyond decorative tradition into the realm of sculptural object design.
This monumental vase embodies Freyer’s characteristic visual language: a sophisticated interplay between strict geometry, tactile surface modulation, and optical rhythm. The elongated rectangular form is animated by deeply textured vertical striations interrupted by two circular crater-like relief elements, creating a dramatic composition that oscillates between Op Art, relief sculpture, and architectural abstraction.
The matte white bisque porcelain surface absorbs light softly, allowing shadow and depth to become the true decorative medium. Depending on the viewing angle, the object alternates between quiet minimalism and highly graphic sculptural presence — a hallmark of sophisticated postwar German design.
Particularly compelling is the dialogue between the rigid columnar silhouette and the organic disturbance of the circular relief forms. The result recalls aspects of Brutalism, concrete relief architecture, and late modernist environmental sculpture of the 1970s–1990s.
About the Designer
Martin Freyer was among the most distinctive artistic contributors to Rosenthal Studio-Line, creating porcelain objects that merged sculpture, graphic abstraction, and architectural thinking. His works often explored texture, rhythm, erosion, and optical structure, positioning porcelain not merely as decorative craft but as a medium for spatial and conceptual experimentation.
Rosenthal Studio-Line, founded under Philip Rosenthal’s visionary direction, became internationally renowned for collaborating with leading contemporary designers and artists including Tapio Wirkkala, Bjørn Wiinblad, Hans Theo Baumann, Dorothy Hafner, and Martin Freyer.
Design & Material
Executed in matte bisque porcelain, the vase deliberately avoids glossy ornamentation. Instead, Freyer relies on relief, texture, and proportion to generate visual complexity. The unglazed surface gives the object an almost architectural materiality, reminiscent of carved plaster, limestone, or cast concrete.
The vertical grooves evoke erosion, rainfall, or geological sedimentation, while the circular relief elements interrupt the linear rhythm with almost planetary or fossil-like forms.
The piece functions equally convincingly as:
– a vase,
– a sculptural standalone object,
– or an architectural interior statement.
Condition & Important Note
The vase remains in very good vintage condition with only minor signs of age and handling consistent with careful ownership.
At some point in its history, the lower interior section was partially filled with a cement-like material, most likely to stabilize the object for sculptural display purposes. As a result, the vase is no longer fully open throughout its entire interior height. It can still be used for floral arrangements, branches, or decorative purposes, though with a reduced internal depth.
This alteration does not affect the exterior appearance or structural integrity of the piece and may even reflect its previous use as a gallery-style sculptural object.
Details
Designer: Martin Freyer
Manufacturer: Rosenthal Studio-Line
Model: 2933
Country: Germany
Year: 1992
Material: Matte white bisque porcelain
Color: White
Style: Op Art / Modernist / Sculptural Minimalism / Postmodern
Height: 43 cm
Width: 12 cm
Depth: 8.5 cm
Marking: Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany mark to underside
An unusually architectural and intellectually rigorous Rosenthal Studio-Line design — simultaneously austere, tactile, and highly atmospheric.
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.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsWhiteMaterialPorcelainNumber of items1Height43 cmWidth12 cmDepth8 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales