Press release -
Elegant classics: Sanssouci and Maria by Rosenthal
They belong to the oldest and most popular forms of the Rosenthal collection: Sanssouci and Maria. Sanssouci traces back to Frederick the Great while Maria is part of a great love story. Both collections are timeless classics.
Rosenthal Sanssouci
When Frederick the Great had his new castle Sanssouci built in Potsdam, he also ordered a special table setting for it. At that time architecture and interior design were regarded as an inseparable unit. The relief of the porcelain service Sanssouci with its delicate trellis structure therefore resembles the Rococo stucco ceiling of the “Great Hall” in the castle of the same name. The “Rocaille” is seen as the ornamental basic motif of the time. This “royal” service was manufactured by the royal porcelain manufacture (KPM) in Berlin from 1763-65.
Out of a strong feel for history, style forms from the past were in demand for architecture and interior design in the style epoch of historicism (around 1879-99). This was also expressed in the porcelain service at the end of the 19th century. Particularly the Rococo (around 1720-1780) the heyday of porcelain, was used as a pattern. The service Sanssouci enjoyed great popularity and was copied by several manufacturers. Rosenthal was the only one to acquire the licence from the KPM to produce this service true to the original. It has never been changed and is still today regarded as the service of the “Old Fritz”.
Since the fading of historicism, after 1897 Sanssouci also disappeared from the Rosenthal Collection. However, a scant 30 years later, in 1926, it re-appeared in an unchanged edition and is still today one of the most popular forms of Rosenthal.
Apart from the transparent, white glazed variant, Rosenthal also offers with Sanssouci a range in the rare ivory glaze.
Rosenthal Maria
Maria is by far the best known classic service from Rosenthal. For generations, it was the porcelain for weddings and other festive occasions. The original model for the form Maria was a silver teapot with a matching milk jug and sugar bowl from around 1815. These pieces were bought by Privy Councillor Philipp Rosenthal on a visit to England.
The classicized, square base form is framed by a delicate, finely curved pomegranate-relief, showing design-elements of the “Empire” style. Both styles, the severe classicism and the agreeable Empire, the style of the bourgeosie, simultaneously playing an important part with constantly conflicting influences.
Rectangular handles, copied from the ebony and ivory handles of the silver pots, are characteristic of the service “Maria” and the offset square surfaces with their light and shadow play, give this form its unmistakable charm. This service was named after Philipp Rosenthal’s second wife and great love, Maria.
In the Twenties and Thirties, “Maria” was an all-encompassing service with 170 different single items. Today “Maria” is still the most comprehensive table service from Rosenthal. A multitude of special and additional items complement the service and make it a complete gourmet programme. Decorative accessories such as vases, bowls, candlesticks, napkin rings and much more make Maria an ideal gift-collection.Available in white, with the pattern Pink Rose, Winter Rose and Originals (mug collection).
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Rosenthal may have one of the longest traditions of Germany‘s companies, but is also one of the most modern. Just as we did when we were originally founded over 135 years ago, Rosenthal develops products equally for discerning end customers and for exacting professional clients from the restaurant and hotel trade. Our products stand out with exceptional form, function, quality and craftsmanship and represent a cultural asset “made in Germany”, never ceasing to combine innovation and creativity. With its award-winning porcelain design, trendy lifestyle collections and modern, elegant classics, the Rosenthal brand raises the bar time and again for aesthetics and individuality.
Established figures from the worlds of architecture, design and art, but also the hottest newcomers and talents design avant-garde dinner table collections, foster a joy of giving and create sophisticated furnishings. The collections are manufactured in the Rosenthal porcelain factory in Selb and the “Thomas am Kulm” porcelain factory in Speichersdorf, which offer some of the porcelain industry‘s most advanced production facilities anywhere in the world and deliver sustainable manufacturing with careful use of resources thanks to the forward- looking investments that have been made. New interior collections and accessories enrich the Rosenthal world by adding designer objects that go far beyond the limits of a conventional table setting and round off the huge product variety.
