
Made in Germany with Love
Started in 2007, the FIFTYEIGHT Products collection now consists of bowls, tea pots, plates, cups, mugs, flower vases, and more designer pieces with cute faces that are cherished by fans in 60 countries across the world. Further highlights include the premium series of TALENT Portrait Cups dedicated to geniuses from world history as well as the CEELINGS lamp canopies in our home decoration line.

At FIFTYEIGHT Products, we're proud of the fact that all our porcelain products are 100% Made in Germany according to environmental standards and in line with fair labor conditions. Our manufacturing facility has earned the certification for environmental compliance with the ISO 14001 standard and ISO 50001 standard for energy savings. Here’s the story of how it all started…
The Journey Begins: From Digital Animation to Physical Products

It all started with a passion for computer-animated characters, designed with a love for detail and brought to life via high-end 3D-animations software. In 1998, three ambitious company founders - Timm Osterhold, Marc Eckart and Max Zimmermann - launched their business under the name Computeranimationsstudio FIFTYEIGHT 3D in Wiesbaden, Germany, looking to bring a piece of Silicon Valley to Germany's Rhine-Main Area.
Commercial milestones included creating Procter and Gamble's time-honored brand mascot Mr. Clean alongside advertisement work for MTV Europe, Sony Music, and Nintendo. As the company hit a steep growth trajectory, official recognition arrived in the form of honors such as first place at the annual Animago Awards and a Silver Cyber Lion at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France, for their blend of creative ideas and artistic execution.

In 2004, FIFTYEIGHT 3D created an animated video clip sent as a holiday greeting email to clients, friends, and family. The main stars were two cheeky coffee cups with lively facial expressions, constantly squabbling and getting on each other's case. Not quite the traditional holiday spirit, but the clip struck a nerve and went viral, being re-sent and forwarded thousands of times that holiday season.
With a budding fan community demanding more videos of the zany coffee cups, FIFTYEIGHT 3D gladly obliged, and the little cups emerged as resident brand mascots. Then someone threw out an idea: "Hey, why not make real coffee cups, just like the ones in our videos!?" To which everyone replied: "Great idea, but what do we actually know about making things from porcelain?
We have the right facial expression for every mood. We're dedicated to creating premium products that make people smile!
— Max Zimmermann

From "Mission Impossible" to Global Success
When we first approached traditional porcelain manufacturers in 2007 with our 3D computer-designed bowls featuring expressive faces, the response was unanimous: "Absolutely impossible!" The intricate facial details and varying thicknesses required for our character-driven dinnerware designs went completely against established porcelain manufacturing rules.
Where traditional coffee cups and cereal bowls maintain consistent wall thickness, our unique tableware designs demanded complex indentations, raised features, and sculptural details that challenged every convention in the ceramic industry. The transition from digital animation to physical designer porcelain products proved far more complex than anticipated, requiring a complete rethinking of traditional manufacturing approaches.

Finding the Perfect Partner

Everything changed when we met BHS tabletop, one of Europe's leading porcelain manufacturers with over 40 million pieces produced annually. Their expert technicians, initially skeptical about the feasibility of our artisan bowl designs, eventually embraced the challenge of bringing our 3D computer models to life.
The collaboration required developing revolutionary production techniques specifically for our unique character-driven porcelain tableware. Through innovative manufacturing processes and state-of-the-art technology, including 70-meter-long firing ovens and precision burn control systems, they transformed what was once deemed impossible into award-winning reality.
The partnership represented a paradigm shift in luxury porcelain manufacturing, moving away from traditional consistent wall thickness to accommodate the complex sculptural details that give our collectible dinnerware their distinctive personalities.
Innovation Meets German Craftsmanship

Today, our computer-based design process seamlessly merges with traditional German porcelain craftsmanship to create premium tableware that brings personality to every meal. What started with a handful of expressive bowls in 2007 has expanded into a comprehensive collection including designer coffee mugs, espresso cups, novelty serveware, storage jars, flower vases, and whimsical home decorations.
Each piece undergoes the meticulous German manufacturing process using natural raw materials - kaolin, quartz, and feldspar - fired at high temperatures reaching 1,420°C to ensure durability, food safety, and dishwasher-safe performance. Our handcrafted porcelain is lead-free and meets all European safety standards for ceramic dinnerware.

Our manufacturing process combines four different production methods: hollow casting for our signature character bowls, high-pressure casting for intricate facial details, rotating techniques for larger serving pieces, and pressing methods for specific applications. The result is restaurant-quality porcelain that maintains the hand-crafted character of our original 3D designs while meeting the demands of serial production.
Every conversation-starter coffee cup, artisan cereal bowl, and decorative piece reflects our commitment to German engineering excellence and environmental responsibility.

Award-Winning Design Excellence

Our commitment to innovation extends beyond traditional tableware into home décor with our CEELINGS line of designer lamp canopies. This collection won the prestigious German Design Award 2022 in the category 'Excellent Product Design – Lighting.'
Recognized as one of the highest honors in the international design community, the German Design Award is voted upon by the German Design Council - a collection of leading experts in branding and design. From ceiling fixtures to collectible coffee cups, every FIFTYEIGHT product combines functional excellence with character-driven design that makes perfect gift sets for any occasion.

The Road Ahead

From those first "impossible" porcelain bowl prototypes to beloved ceramic tableware and home décor in 60 countries worldwide, we continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in premium German porcelain design. Our journey from digital animation studio to international porcelain brand proves that with the right partnership, innovation, and commitment to quality, even the most impossible dreams can become reality - one smiling bowl at a time.
In 2014, we expanded our reach across the Atlantic, establishing a distribution center in Miami to bring our Made in Germany designer porcelain directly to American consumers and retailers. The response has been absolutely amazing! US customers and retailers have embraced our character-driven tableware with incredible enthusiasm.

We've been warmly welcomed at major American tradeshows including NY NOW, Chicago Home Show, Las Vegas Market, and Atlanta Market, where our unique coffee mugs and expressive dinnerware consistently draw crowds of excited visitors.
"We are super glad that customers in the US love our Made in Germany products," said Max Zimmermann, co-founder. "Many tell us that they first saw our goods on a vacation to Europe and how much they love being able to purchase them in the US directly."
Stay tuned as we bring new products and special editions designed specifically for the US market to stores nationwide!
FIFTYEIGHT Products Timeline
Witness the evolution of FIFTYEIGHT Products in our timeline.

2007
FIFTYEIGHT PRODUCTS IS BORN
The first collection of classic bowls with expressive faces and 16 oz capacity is manufactured in Germany – and nothing was the same!

2012
TALENT SERIES
The TALENT Series creates detailed tributes to the greatest minds of cultural history. Think of these lifelike portraits as statues in your living room. Invite Beethoven, Mozart, Shakespeare and more to your table.

2014
Coffee Mugs Cause a Stir
The product line expanded significantly with addition of coffee mugs, bringing their own unique style and flavor to the FIFTYEIGHT collection.

2016
Expanding into Home Decor
In the beginning, FIFTYEIGHT Products mostly delighted fans with their signature
line of serving bowls and coffee cups crafted from quality German porcelain.
But in the year 2016, the company explored new territory by releasing an
unexpected item: the 'Laid-Back' Flower Vase brought a new level of style and
cheekiness into the home décor segment.

2021
Catching CEELINGS
The evolution of FIFTYEIGHT went through the roof with the addition of CEELINGS lamp canopies. This fun addition to lighting design even won the German Design Award.