VERSACE, for Rosenthal

VERSACE, for Rosenthal
“Medusa Blue” square tray.
Decorated porcelain.
With logo on the back.
Measurements: 22 x 22 x 3 cm.

Porcelain tray from the “Medusa Blue” series, created by Versace for Rosenthal. The piece brings together some of the Italian fashion house’s most recognizable visual elements: the head of Medusa, Greco-Roman-inspired motifs, gold ornamentation, and intense cobalt blue—all integrated into a symmetrical composition with a distinctly decorative character.

The design combines the technical precision of Rosenthal porcelain with Versace’s exuberant aesthetic, where luxury is expressed through chromatic hallmarks, ornate detail, and references to the classical world. The central Medusa serves as an emblem, surrounded by borders, scrollwork, and architectural motifs that reinforce the piece’s theatrical effect.

Launched in 1992, the collaboration between Versace and Rosenthal brought together the Italian fashion house’s exuberant aesthetic vision with the German firm’s long tradition of craftsmanship, renowned for its excellence in porcelain production since the 19th century.

The German ceramics, porcelain, and glassware manufacturer Rosenthal was founded in 1879 in Selb, Bavaria, by Philip Rosenthal, and remains in operation today. Its first commercial success came in the early 20th century, thanks to its delicate figurative statuettes and tableware sets, characterized by simplified and refined forms that were very different from earlier Art Nouveau pieces. After World War II, the factory completely revamped its product line and hired prominent designers such as Löwy and Wirkkala.