German Plate

Q: My grandfather gave me this 10-inch plate he bought when he used to travel, and it obviously came from Germany. He passed away and I’m not sure of its origin, history, or value. The back is marked “Rosenthal, Studio-linie, Germany, Volksfürsorge.” I’d really appreciate any help you can provide.

A: Philipp Rosenthal & Co. was established in Selb, Bavaria, in 1891. The company became part of the Arcturus Group in 2009. This plate is part of its expensive Studio Line, introduced in 1961. The line includes designs by several famous designers and is still being made. Volksfürsorge was an insurance company founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 1913. After several mergers, it became part of Generali Deutschland AG in 2009. The castle mark with three turrets and two rampant lions is a stylized version of the coat of arms of the city of Hamburg. We’ve seen other Rosenthal Volksfürsorge plates with gold “heraldic” style designs. Value of your plate, about $25.

Rosenthal Selb-Bavaria Mark

Q: I’m searching for information on the this porcelain mark which is on the bottom of a platter. It says “RosenXthal Selb-Bavaria, Versailles.” There is a crown over the large “X.” Below that it’s stamped “Nicolaus Franz Nachf., Hoflieferant, Frankfurt a.M.” Any leads you may have would be greatly appreciated.

 

A: The platter was made by Rosenthal, a porcelain factory established in Selb, Bavaria, in 1880. Rosenthal was bought by the Waterford Wedgwood Group in 1998 and became part of the Arcturus Group in 2009. Rosenthal used this mark between 1907 and 1910. The pattern name is “Versailles.” The words in red are German and translate as “Nicolaus Franz successor to court supplier Frankfurt a.M.” Nicolaus Franz sold porcelain and glass goods in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Army Soup Bowl

Q: I found a porcelain soup bowl that was hidden in the storage area of my house and remembered the story my mother told me when I was a child, almost 40 years ago. The soup bowl belonged to the head officer of the German Army in the small city of Amfissa, located in central Greece, during the period of the German occupation of Greece (1941-1944). He was staying at the house of my mother’s aunt, whose family was one of the richest of the region and had one of the nicest houses. The officer chose her house as his residence. The bowl remained at the house of my mother’s aunt and was eventually passed to my mother and then to me. Can you help me evaluate the bowl and its significance in the market? The bottom of the bowl is printed with the sign of the German Army and the name of the manufacturer, Rosenthal.

A: Rosenthal and some of the other German porcelain manufacturers made tableware for the German armed forces. The flying eagle is the symbol of the Luftwaffe, the German aerial forces. The letters “Fl.U.V.” stand for Flieger Unterkunfte Verwaltung, which translates as Aviators Accommodations Administration, now called Flight Barracks Administration. The value, depending on size, is about $50 to $150. A copy of the history kept with the bowl might add to the historic value and price.

Rosenthal

Walk into a gift shop and look at the vases and dinnerware. The most eye-catching, most colorful, and most innovative are probably part of the Rosenthal Studio line started in 1961. Under the leadership of Philip Rosenthal, son of the founder, the company created new designs beginning in the 1950s. Famous artists like Walter Gropius, […]