Rosenthal - Tac Skin Platin tea cup saucer 

This classic Rosenthal design now features a series of graphics that follow the contours of each object, emphasizing its shape. The designs take up the theme of structure by playing on the contrast between opaque and shiny surfaces. It is an idea that Walter Gropius himself pursued in his first project. The sandblasting technique was used on flat pieces to create relief, while the velvety, matte surface of hollow objects such as the teapot was achieved with engraving technology. Small overlapping leaves produce a platinum-colored mosaic that extends across the surface of the plate and emphasizes the shape with a simple line around the outline of the edge.

Walter Gropius

Walter Gropius was born in Berlin in 1883 and died in Boston in 1969. Founded The Architects Collaborative Inc. (TAC), Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1946. Gropius studied architecture in Berlin and Munich. In 1918 he was called to Weimar where, as Director of the Academy of Art and of the School of Applied Arts, he founded the Staatliche Bauhaus. 1937–1952 professorship at Harvard University. As co-founder of the Deutscher Werkbund and as spiritual father of Bauhaus, Gropius had a major influence upon twentieth century artistic endeavour. He constructed production facilities for Rosenthal at Selb and Amberg and also designed the timeless »TAC 1« tea service. The association, which was fruitful in many directions, commenced in 1963.

Rosenthal