Rosenthal - Helmut Drexler - Βάζο (3) - Βάζο τριών τεμαχίων από μαύρη πορσελάνη με πλατίνα, Platinnebel. - Πορσελάνη - Κομψό Μινιμαλιστικό Πολυτελές

Helmut Drexler for Rosenthal – “Platinnebel” Vase Trio II
Glossy Black Porcelain with Platinum Decoration, Featuring Tapio Wirkkala-Attributed Form
Germany, Rosenthal Studio Linie, ca. 1980s

Designer: Helmut Drexler
Series: Platinnebel
Material: Hand-painted Porcelaine Noire with platinum foil decoration
Year: ca. 1980s
Dimensions:
– Large vase (Wirkkala form): Height 21.5 cm × Width 13.5 cm × Depth 7 cm
– Medium vase (oval cylinder): Height 20.5 cm × Width 9 cm × Depth 7 cm
– Small vase (curved rectangular): Height 13.5 cm × Width 12 cm × Depth 6 cm
All marked as First Choice / Erste Wahl

This rare second trio from the *Platinnebel* (“Platinum Mist”) series demonstrates the mature phase of Helmut Drexler’s design collaboration with Rosenthal Studio Linie. Produced in the early 1980s, the series merges precision geometry with a rich, high-contrast palette of glossy black porcelain and hand-applied platinum foil. The reflective platinum surfaces animate each form with subtle shifts of light and shadow, creating an effect both architectural and atmospheric.

The largest vase, based on a silhouette attributed to the Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, stands out for its sculptural depth. Wirkkala’s soft, wedge-like form lends the piece a poised monumentality, while Drexler’s overlay of platinum transforms it into a kinetic study in reflection and surface. The medium vase, defined by an oval cylindrical body and a dynamic diagonal platinum band, captures Drexler’s fascination with rhythm and balance. The smallest vase completes the trio with a geometric grid motif that echoes the tension between symmetry and abstraction central to Drexler’s visual language.

About the Designer:
Helmut Drexler (1936–2013) was a German industrial and ceramic designer whose work united the principles of the Bauhaus and the Ulm School of Design. A student of Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Drexler was known for his disciplined modernism and precision craftsmanship. At Rosenthal, he developed several celebrated collections that fused minimalism with material opulence, among them the *Platinnebel* series—an exemplary intersection of modernist clarity and decorative sophistication.

About the Manufacturer:
Rosenthal, founded in 1879 in Selb, Bavaria, is one of Europe’s most acclaimed porcelain manufacturers. Through its Studio Linie, launched in 1961, Rosenthal collaborated with internationally renowned designers including Tapio Wirkkala, Dorothy Hafner, and Martin Freyer. The company’s forward-thinking approach redefined porcelain for the modern age—transforming utilitarian objects into sculptural statements. The *Platinnebel* series stands as a hallmark of this philosophy, embodying both technical mastery and artistic innovation.

Condition:
All three vases are in excellent vintage condition, marked *erste Wahl* (first choice). Surfaces are pristine, with no chips, cracks, or wear. Platinum decoration remains crisp and vibrant.

Collectible Significance:
Complete *Platinnebel* trios are exceptionally scarce, especially in this configuration featuring a Wirkkala-derived form. They exemplify the synthesis of craftsmanship, geometry, and material refinement that defined Rosenthal’s design leadership in the late 20th century. This set serves as both a sophisticated interior statement and a key piece for collectors of modernist ceramics and postwar German design.

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