Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, Samuramat Series, Porcelain Goldfire Glaze Pillow Vase, 1960s-70s

THE ITEM

This excellent work of Modernist design is by Antje Brüggemann for Rosenthal's 'Studio Line' division of design-orientated creations.  

Brüggemann is a leading German ceramic artist and designed this piece as part of her 'Linear' series in the early 1980s during her collaboration with Rosenthal.

The 80s design influence of distorted geometry is evident in the shape of this piece and also in the dusty-teal blue elements, which are outlined in green.

This stylish piece would suit a room with Minimalist, Modernist or Retro decor themes. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Rosenthal (1879 - present)
The company founder, Philipp Rosenthal, moved his porcelain painting skills from Werl (North Rhine-Westphalia) to Selb in Bavaria, which he industrialised in the castle Erkersreuth with his painting workshop. The company grew from strength to strength over the years, with original pieces designed by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Walter Gropius. By 1997, Rosenthal was the market leader for high-quality porcelain and glassware in Germany and was the world market leader in conjunction with Waterford Wedgwood. Rosenthal launched 'Rosenthal Studio Line' to specialise in design-orientated art objects and goods. 

CONDITION
Very Good - no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild use wear on the interior of the vase and two minor scratches (c. 2 - 4 mm) on one side that is commensurate with the age of the piece - please refer to photos as part of the condition of the report, The base of the vase bears the Rosenthal Studio Line insignia stamp. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 7" /  18 cm tall (from base to rim) x 4.5" / 11.5 cm width. Depth: c. 1.7" / 4.2 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.7 kg / 661 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

THE ITEM

A 1977 limited edition Weihnachten (German tr. 'Christmas Day') wall plate designed by renowned artist Bjorn Wiinblad in his recognised style, dominated by wavy lines, bright colours and romantic worlds. 

The glass dish dips at the centre, creating a circular frame for the featured figures and the outer frame is lightly embossed, raising the painted decor into relief decor effect and making the plate wonderfully tactile. 

The plate is adorned with gold, white and blue jewel-like coloured decor with the central figures being dressed in accents similar to characters from Wiinblad's popular Aladdin and 1001 Nights series. 

CONDITION

Excellent, no chips or cracks. Decor is printed with 'Weihnachten 1977' and Wiinblads signature as part of the surface design. The reverse of the plate is printed with Rosenthal Studio Line's limited edition stamp and the number '7'. Plate has original fitting of a wall hook. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 0.8" /  2 cm tall  x 11.4" /  28.9 cm in diameter.

Unpackaged weight: 1.4 kg / 1,393 g

NOTES
Glass will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Bjørn Wiinblad (b. 1918 d. 2006) was a Danish painter, designer and artist in ceramics, silver, bronze, textiles, and graphics. Aged 17, he began an apprenticeship as a typographer, but soon realised that his heart was set on following the path of an artist and would go on from his beginnings as an illustrator to become a cosmopolitan multi-artist.

His work has been shown widely in Europe, in the United States of America first in 1954 and in Japan, Australia and Canada in 1968. Wiinblad was named Man of the Year in New York in 1985 and was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Cultural Prize of 1995.

In 1957, Wiinblad was appointed Chief Designer for the famous German brand Rosenthal, a position that enhanced his international reputation even further.

Even though Bjørn Wiinblad was Copenhagen born and bred, and had trained in Copenhagen, his style was anything but classic Danish, and while functionalism ruled the roost in Denmark, Bjørn Wiinblad went the other way, espousing a style dominated by wavy lines, bright colours and romantic worlds.

Characteristics of Wiinblad's work include whimsical round-faced people, dressed in vaguely 19th-century costume. They are often surrounded by natural elements: twining vines, floral wreaths, and fantastical trees. When Wiinblad employed colour, he did so with great assurance. His colours are saturated and strong—sometimes almost psychedelic—and are often supplemented with metallic gold or silver.

Women were a consistent theme in the Wiinblad universe, displaying a wide range of emotional nuances, and their eyes – specifically, their gaze – were always very special. As a rule, they looked out with openness and curiosity – but with traces of dejection, melancholy and mysticism.

The eyes meant something very special to Wiinblad, so even though he employed a large number of people, he always painted the eyes himself and thus, the women were quoted to be intensely 'Wiinbladian'. 

This exquisitely illustrated pair of porcelain noire art is by celebrated Danish illustrator and glass, silver, textiles, ceramics designer Bjorn Wiinblad (b. 1918 - d. 2006) who designed them for Rosenthal in the 1960s.

Both pieces are from The Samuramat or Sammuramat series, inspired by the tales of the powerful queen of the Babylonian Empire c. 850 BC. The forms are sleekly elegant and simplistic; one is of a pillow vase and the other a oval cylinder, which are excellent canvas' to showcase the incredible detail of the gold gilding. Wiinblad's unmistakable style with its romantic, charming and fantastical characteristics is very much evident in these collectable pieces. 

CONDITION
Excellent. There is negligible use wear, primarily in the form of movement marks on the underside of both vases. The undersides bear Rosenthal's Studio Line stamp with logo and model number. Wiinblad's signature underscore the front facing illustrations. 

MEASUREMENTS
- Oval Cylinder Vase - Height c. 8.3" / 21.2 cm (from base to rim) x Width c. 3.1" / 8 cm (across widest points). Depth: c. 2" / 5 cm.
- Pillow Vase- Height c. 4.5" / 11.5 cm (from base to rim) x Width c. 5" / 12.8 cm (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.4" / 6 cm. Unpackaged weight [pair]: c. 0.7 kg / 740 g

NOTES
Vases will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born in 1918 in Copenhagen, Bjorn Wiinblad began his training and path to success in 1935. Wiinblad sought the path to his first passion of art and enrolled in graphic school at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, debuting in 1945 with an extensive exhibition in Palægade, Copenhagen. He met and became firm friends Jacob E. Bang around this time, who engaged him to work for Nymølle Pottery.

From the beginnings at Nymolle, Wiinblad received multiple commissions, from designing textile and embroidery patterns to drawing posters, book and magazine illustrations. Wiinblad drew for the United Nations in Paris and designed costumes and stages for several theatrical performances. His fame grew in Denmark but soon would extend to Norway and Sweden and in 1950 his ceramics were exhibited at Bonnier's in New York, which specialised in Scandinavian design.

Wiinblad's recognition and acclaim would continue to grow, bringing him a silver medal at the first international ceramics festival in 1955 in Cannes, France and appointment as artistic director for Rosenthal in 1960. During the 1960s, Wiinblad would become owner to a number of ceramic studios including Vaerksted, Nymolle and Det Blaa Hus. He would make Det Blaa Hus his workshop and home until his death in 2006.

Wiinblad's successes did not stop in the Sixties, his continued achievements and international success were extensively documented and celebrated on the dedicated website: https://www.bjornwiinblad-denmark.dk/om-bjoern-wiinblad

This gracefully elegant and delectable work of Art Nouveau 'Jugendstil' design is by celebrated German porcelain maker Rosenthal. 

Jugendstil is an artistic style that arose in Germany around the mid-1890s that continued until 1910s. The style derived its name from the magazine Die Jugend (“Youth”), which featured Art Nouveau designs. There are two phases in Jugendstil: the early, pre-1900 style that is mainly floral in character and rooted in English Art Nouveau and Japanese applied arts and prints; and a later, more abstract phase, growing out of the Viennese work of the architect and designer Henry van de Velde. 

This particular piece is early Jugendstil, with the carefully hand painted abstract Fleur De Lys and floral décor applied in a 'stained-glass' manner. More formal dating can be found via the Rosenthal stamp on the underside of the base. The décor is in the beautifully contrasting colour palette of Raspberry red, Powdered Lemon yellow and Pale Steel blue-grey - all of which is firmly defined in rich black outline. 

The combination of the age, condition with the colour palette and design of this work that is combined together into this miniature form makes this piece an exceptionally rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild surface wear to the hand painted glaze that is commensurable with the age of the piece, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears Rosenthal's stamp in use from 1891 to 1906. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 4.8" / 12.3 cm tall (from base to rim). Rim diameter: c. 1.2" / 3 cm. Base diameter: c. 1.6" / 4 cm. Diameter (across widest point): c. 2.7" / 6.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.2 kg / 155 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Rosenthal (1879 - present)
The company founder, Philipp Rosenthal, moved his porcelain painting skills from Werl (North Rhine-Westphalia) to Selb in Bavaria, where he industrialised in the castle Erkersreuth with his painting workshop. The company grew from strength to strength over the years, with original pieces designed by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Walter Gropius. By 1997, Rosenthal was the market leader for high-quality porcelain and glassware in Germany and was the world market leader in conjunction with Waterford Wedgwood. Rosenthal launched 'Rosenthal Studio Line' to specialise in design-orientated art objects and goods.

This ethereally, elegant and sensuous set was designed by Uta Feyl, celebrated Czechoslovakian designer for Rosenthal. Feyl has been designing for Rosenthal since 1979, her works are known for their provocative, sensual and anthropomorphic nature, drawing on influences from the human body and nature. 

This particular set comes from Feyl's Calla series that was designed in the 1980s. Highly tactile and light, these works are formed of Bisque porcelain with silky matte and undulating surfaces. 

CONDITION
Very Good. There are no chips, cracks or repairs, there is negligible use wear in the form of faint surface marks on interior and exterior of the pieces that is consistent with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of each piece bears Rosenthal's stamp and the model numbers '3588/22' and '3588-7'. The vase has the addition of Feyl's signature. 

MEASUREMENTS

• Vase - Height: c. 8.6" / 21.9 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 4.1" / 10.5 cm width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 2.8" / 7cm x c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm. 
• Candleholder - Height: c. 3.8" / 9.6 cm tall (from base to rim) x c.2.2" / 5.5 cm width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 1.9" / 4.7cm x c. 1.7" / 4.2 cm. Candleholders take candles measuring c. 0.8" / 2 cm in diameter.  
• Unpackaged weight (set): c. 0.6 kg / 570 g

NOTES
Set will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Uta Feyl, born in the Czech Republic and educated in Berlin, Uta Feyl has designed for Rosenthal since 1979. Her designs draw on forms found in nature and the human body and her work includes popular series such as 'Venus' and 'Vongola' for Rosenthal's Studio-line range.

Rosenthal was founded in 1879 as a workshop for the decoration of white porcelain by Philipp Rosenthal. The company began to manufacture porcelain in 1891. From the very outset Rosenthal was a company that pointed the way ahead with its forms and décors. The close work with famous designers and artists since the early 1950s had a major influence upon Rosenthal’s further development and the company was the first porcelain manufacturer to become a pioneer for contemporary, modern product design.