Rosenthal

Traditional mixed with the new showcasing German excellence in manufacturing.

Rosenthal GmbH is one of the most famous German manufacturers of porcelain and accessories for the table and kitchen. Today, as for more than 130 years, Rosenthal creates products that are unique in their form, function and quality, which symbolize the cultural value of “Made in Germany”. In collaboration with famous artists and designers, stylish collections of tableware and creative items made of porcelain have been created as an expression of high table culture. Glass products, cutlery and kitchen accessories complement the extensive range of products from the sections – for home and gifts.

 In 1879, 25-year-old Philipp Rosenthal founded an art Studio in Selb. Initially, the Rosenthal workshop painted the porcelain of other manufactories, but a few years later its own production was organized. Already the first product brought a resounding success. In 1886, a porcelain ashtray was made under the Rosenthal brand: it was appreciated for its innovative appearance for those years – the inscription “resting place of a burning cigar” and the image of a cigar.

 At the moment, many directions are divided into separate sub-brands. There is the successful Rosenthal meets Versace project. The collaboration began in 1993, when designer Paul Wunderlich designed the Mythos service. It was later used as the basis for the famous Medusa service-dishes, glasses, decorative items with the head of the Gorgon Medusa (the logo of the house of Versace). The decor was designed by Gianni Versace, and today the Rosenthal meets Versace line is being developed by the designer’s sister Donatella Versace.

Sambonet

In 1856, Giuseppe Sambonet, a Fine Arts graduate and the son of a nobleman from Vercelli, obtained his warrant as Master Goldsmith and established the company, Giuseppe Sambonet, depositing his seal bearing the initials “GS” at the Turin mint. At the beginning of the twentieth century his company was the Official Purveyor to many noble families, including the Duchess of Genoa and the Count of Turin.

In 1932, Sambonet was the first company in Italy to build an industrial production plant capable of manufacturing both sterling silver and galvanic silverware. In 1938, it developed an innovative process for the production of stainless steel fl atware and developed a silver-plated steel manufacturing technique. In 1947, it started producing stainless steel knives and blades using its own technology.

 In 1956, Sambonet conquered the international market by being chosen, from 53 competitors, to supply the Cairo Hilton Hotel with a hollowware line that is still in its collection today. This marked the beginning of the company’s great tradition of supplying world-class hotels and restaurants.

 Starting from the Sixties, great designers created collections that consolidated and popularised the company’s focus on design. Roberto Sambonet, in particular, created collections of primary importance, such as the “Pesciera”, “Center line” and “Linea 50” trays that can be admired at the MoMA in New York. Anna Castelli Ferrieri also designed a line of fl atware for Sambonet. Her Hannah collection won the Compasso d’Oro award in 1994. Special mention, lastly, must be made of the Gio Ponti fl atware line which has been produced since 1932.

Sambonet in 1997 entered the Paderno group and in 2009 acquired Rosenthal, the prestigious brand of German porcelain. The acquisitions of the Bavarian Arzberg in 2013 and, in 2015, of Ercuis & Raynaud, icon of the elegance and tradition of "made in France" porcelain, have seen further growth of the range of products offered. Headquartered in Orfengo, between Novara and Vercelli, the group Sambonet Paderno Industrie S.p.A. is now a leader in the production of high quality design tabletop and kitchen, destined for both the retail and the Ho.Re.Ca. sector.