Philipp Rosenthal started out by painting ceramic at a German castle in 1879, and by 1891, the company was making its porcelain pieces. Since the company’s founder was Jewish, he was forced out of the country in 1934 by a political arm of the Germans, who took his company and continued creating pottery. It might take until 1950 for the management of the enterprise to come back to son Phillip Jr., who fought on the side of the allies during World War II. To recognize a true Rosenthal vase, then start by examining the item for the organization’s mark, which may also include the name of the collection or the designer.
Maker’s Mark
A real Rosenthal vase has a company mark on its underside to spot its maker. In later decades, the mark also sometimes included the artist’s name. Some marks would also include the name of the factory in which the piece was made or the collection, such as “Selb, Bavaria” and “Classic Rose Collection.” The business produced a variety of lines such as the Studio Line Collection, Hutschenreuther, Versace and under the name Thomas.
First Company Mark
In the years which Rosenthal just painted ceramic — the company was not yet fabricating pottery — 1887 to 1891, the company’s mark was a painter’s palette with four brushes through the thumb hole of the palette. The palette itself transported the letters Ph. R. & Co., standing for Philipp Rosenthal and Company.
Crown and Crossed Swords Mark
The business established its principal mark, which evolved marginally during the years but remained fairly consistent, with the picture of a crown and crossed swords forming an “X” under it. To either side of the swords have been an “R” on the left along with a “C” on the right, which might be replaced starting in 1912 with the words “Rosen” on the left and “Thal” on the right. The mark could also contain the line’s name and the factory and country in which the piece was made, such as Kronich — Bavaria.
Other Marks
Through World War I, the organization’s mark contained a shield with the German cross in it under the organization’s mark. By 1919 to 1935, the firm also used two crossed roses in place of the crossed swords beneath the crown. Underneath the rose and crown, the company spelled out its entire name, Rosenthal, with Bavaria under and on occasion the set name.
World War II and Onward
Through the war years, not one of the members of the Rosenthal family had been involved in the management of the company. While several of these bits made included the standard company mark, the German political and military influence in the company had some company marks include the swastika on the base of several pottery pieces. At times the swastika will be held at the claws of an eagle, and sometimes it would be in a circular shield surrounded by German wordsthat translated mean “Approved Model of the Office of the attractiveness of Labor.” In the latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries, the marked returned into the crown along with crossed swords and company name, but person designer ranges often contain the designer’s mark as well.