RORSTRAND RARE Rosmarin Deluxe Tea Service for Four (4) in Pink - 18 pcs

On offer is an elegant tea service for four (4) that includes several rare finds from the Rosmarin service line in the traditional pink colorway.  Designed by Rörstrand’s Hertha Bengtson, Rosmarin debuted in 1957 and was manufactured until 1966.  Service items in the series have a sleek, delicate, dramatic profile, with exteriors featuring a linear relief pattern that produces a subtle “fluted” effect.  While Rosmarin’s most popular exterior glaze is pink, the service was also produced in grey and white versions; and select pieces were even offered in a rich chocolate brown glaze.

This listing contains the following items:

• Pink Teapot with lid (rosa tekanna med lock):  7 ½ inches tall (19 cm); a spout-to-handle measurement of 9 ½ inches (24 cm); and a generous capacity of just under 6 cups (1.4 liters)

• Pink Saucers (rosa tekoppsfat), 4 pieces:  6 ¼ inches in diameter (16.5 cm)

(Note:  Because of the sweeping design of many Rosmarin items, some measurements are approximated.)

Condition Report:

This entire set is in excellent vintage condition.  There is no apparent evidence of repair to any item in this collection.  

Teapot (Pictures 2-6):   The exterior glazing on this item is moderate and glossy, allowing the fluted relief pattern to shine through beautifully.  Oblique lighting reveals no evidence of crazing (craquelure), and there are no noted areas of discoloration anywhere on the upper areas of the form.  A small, faint spot of “underglazing” was noted on the spout — this area is so faint that it can be easily missed under normal lighting conditions (highlighted in Picture 4).  Otherwise, the spout, handle, and mouth of the vessel are smooth to the touch and free of fleabites  or other issues of consequence.  The interior is clean and odor-free.  The unglazed footring shows very mild signs of wear, but the underside of the form is otherwise unremarkable.  The lid, with its trademark finial, is beautifully preserved; and its unglazed inner lip on the reverse side is extremely clean.  This is an exceptional example of this iconic teapot.  This piece is numbered and stamped “Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin” and was manufactured in 1957, shortly after the line’s debut.

Lidded Chocolate Pots (Pictures 7-10):  Tonally, both carafes are similar, with a moderate glazing treatment.  When held on an oblique tilt, neither piece shows any evidence of crazing (craquelure), and very few scratches were noted on close examination.  One pot has a small spot on its form which is a slightly darker pink than found on the rest of the body (Picture 7, right); and the other carafe has an area towards the base of the handle where the ridged relief appears slightly mottled (Picture 8, bottom left).  This same carafe has a glazing irregularity found on its opening — a flat, smooth spot that “reads” white — as well as an inconsequential “pinhole” in the form (both highlighted in Picture 9). Apart from these manufacturing anomalies, the handles, spouts, and mouths of both pieces are both smooth to the touch.  Both interiors are clean and odor-free.   A subtle difference between the two carafes can be found when examining the spouts:  One carafe has a spout with a slight dip in its center that creates a channel, possibly for preventing drips when liquid is being poured (Picture 9, left center of the frame).  Both lids are unremarkable, with unglazed inner lips that are extremely clean and smooth to the touch.  The unglazed footring on each carafe shows only very light wear and little-to-no discoloration.  These handsome specimens are both marked “Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin” and were manufactured in 1957 and 1960.

Tea Canister (Pictures 11-14):  There is very little to fault with the base of this piece.  The glazing here is also moderate, and oblique lighting reveals no evidence of crazing (craquelure).   There only a few faint scratches noted, and the unglazed footring on the underside is remarkably clean, showing very little wear.  The interior of the piece is uniformly glazed, but there is a raised “crumb” noted on the interior sidewall.  The lid is also beautifully glazed and intact.  However, when turned over, the lid’s rim shows evidence of moderate-to-heavy discoloration, possibly from tea tannins (Picture 12).  This area is smooth, but over time, some of this brown discoloration has crept to the point where it’s slightly visible even when the lid is position on top of the base (Pictures 11 and 14).  With all that said, this lidded canister is very nicely preserved — and it is the rarest item on offer in this entire collection.  (In the auctions I’ve participated in, this piece can fetch twice the amount that the Rosmarin teapot would.)  This item is numbered and marked "Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin” and was manufactured in 1957.

Sugar Bowl & Creamer (Pictures 15-18):  There is very little to remark on with either item in this set.  Oblique lighting reveals no evidence of crazing (craquelure), and all edges are smooth and free of fleabites.  The interior of the creamer has a very small, glazed-over “crumb” noted on the  floor of the interior.  And the sugar bowl has two very faint vanilla-bean like “flecks” noted underneath the glaze on its interior (highlighted in Picture 17).   Both pieces are numbered and marked "Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin” and were manufactured in 1957.

Teacups (Pictures 19-21):   The teacups selected for this listing are tonally very similar, and each has very little to fault.  All edges are smooth to the touch, and there is no evidence of crazing (craquelure) that I could detect when each was held on an oblique tilt.  Each cup is beautifully glazed in a way that allows the fluted relief pattern to shine through beautifully.  None of these cups is numbered or stamped, which is not uncommon for pink Rosmarin teacups manufactured towards the end of the production run.

Saucers & Cake Plates  (Pictures 22-24):  Again, there is truthfully very little to fault with any of the “plates” featured in this collection. The saucers are beautifully glazed, and utensil scrapes or the “rub marks” on the recessed center medallions from their companion cups are very difficult to see in oblique lighting.  The footrings on the saucers are glazed, and apart from the expected kiln marks, their undersides are otherwise unremarkable.  All saucers are numbered and stamped "Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin" and were manufactured in 1957.  Similarly, the cake plates in this collection are moderately glazed, have very smooth edges, and are free of crazing (craquelure) and aggressive utensil wear.  All plates are numbered and stamped “Rörstrand Sweden Rosmarin” and were both manufactured in 1957 & 1958.

As always, please refer to all furnished photographs in this listing, as they form an integral, supplemental part of the description.  I try to “over describe” my items, pointing out any irregularities that a buyer of vintage goods might find objectionable.  I am certainly happy to provide additional photography upon request.

Shipping:

The listed shipping is for buyers in the contiguous United States.  If you reside in Alaska or Hawaii, please contact me for a shipping quote.  My auctions are currently closed to international customers, but if you reside outside the US and are interested in bidding, please reach out to me.  (Please understand that I am not responsible for any duties or delays imposed by Customs in your country, and I cannot declare any items shipped to you for less than their sale price.)

Fragile collectibles will be double-boxed where appropriate and practical.

Return Policy:

As a longtime buyer of vintage pottery, I understand that disappointments sometimes happen.  Terms like “excellent” and “near mint” are subjective, meaning wildly different things to different people.  And it can be difficult to agree on when “wear and tear consistent with age” has ventured into the territory of actual damage.  Rather than quibble,  if you are dissatisfied with any item that you purchase from me, for any reason, simply return it to me within 14 days in the condition in which it was sent, and I will happily refund your money.  I will pay for return shipping costs, but regrettably, I cannot refund outbound shipping and handling fees in such cases.  Of course, should an item sustain any damage during transit, you will receive a complete refund.  (In the event that a multi-item shipment sustains only partial damage, please contact me so that we can work out a satisfactory solution.)  All I ask in return is that you document any damage, retain all packing materials, and assist me during the claims process. 

In my experience, the best transactions are ones where there is open, honest communication on both sides.  My goal is to find happy homes for these treasures, with the hope that they will bring their new owners as much joy as they’ve brought me.

About Me:

I have been an avid Blue Fire (Blå Eld) and Koka Blue (Koka Blå) collector for almost 20 years.  I own over 400 pieces in each line, so if you are hunting for something in particular, please reach out to me – there’s a good chance that I have what you’re looking for.  I absolutely love chatting with other Rorstrand enthusiasts!

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions.  I’d rather be deluged with questions than to have my buyers experience one drop of regret with any item that I sell.