Berlin  - German porcelain maker Rosenthal filed for insolvency on Friday, four days after its Anglo-Irish parent Waterford Wedgwood announced that it had been placed into administration.

A spokeswoman for Rosenthal said that company did not possess sufficient liquidity to carry on normal operations despite being excluded from insolvency proceedings of Waterford Wedgwood.

Efforts by the board had failed to secure enough capital to enable the company to continue operating during an interim period until it is sold to a strategic investor, the spokeswoman added.

The company said negotiations on a sale were at an advanced stage and it was hopeful a deal would be concluded soon to enable its production operations in Germany to continue.

Waterford Wedgwood purchased a major chunk of Rosenthal's shares in 1998 and now holds 90.7 per cent of the company.

Rosenthal, which employs 1,585 people, recorded a loss of 7.2 million euros (9.8 million dollars) in the first six months of 2008 on a turnover of 71 million euros.

Waterford Wedgwood, which has a history dating back 250 years, is best known for its Wedgwood pottery, Royal Doulton china and Waterford crystal. (dpa)