Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

The iconic Hungarian art pottery of Zsolnay :

For 158 years, the iconic Hungarian company of Zsolnay has been producing innovative  and high quality ceramic wares. What started as a small family ceramics workshop in Pécs in 1853  had grown into a modern factory by the 1880’s, thanks to Vilmos Zsolnay’s long decades of painstaking and dedicated experimentation. Founding father  Miklós Zsolnay originally established the first manufacturing shop of ceramics for his son Ignác. In 1863 the younger son Vilmos took control and expanded into a factory production.

The Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory

 

The factory’s first major success was reached at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna. On the basis of its product displays, the factory received a great number of orders from England, France, Russia, and even from America. By the 1870’s the  the Zsolnay family rapidly became well-known and highly appreciated in Europe, and the business employed 20 workers.

The family were perceptive and their experimental nature in historical and Art Nouveau styles made the Zsolnay ceramics successful at many fairs and exhibitions (Vienna, Paris, London, Milan, Torino, California US). The success achieved during the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris was tremendous. The jury praised the Zsolnay collection as being unique and gave it the gold medal, the so-called Grand Prix. Numerous buildings belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy were also decorated with Zsolnay tiles. Prior to the 1890s, the company produced ornate pieces inspired by Islamic pierced wares and traditional Hungarian wares. It was not until 1893, when Vilmós appointed the chemist Vincse Wartha as artistic director, that Zsolnay began to specialize in Art Nouveau-inspired ceramics with crystalline metallic glazes.

Zsolnay fountain in Pecs

 

The most famous invention of the factory was the creation of ‘eosin”, a metallic shiny glaze on ceramics. . Their technique of firing glazes at high temperatures remains unique even today.

The Zsolnay production suffered many hardships during the 2 World Wars from problems sourcing materials to having to abandon artistic production for the creation of electrical insulators and the like. Along with  being bombed in the WW2. The incoming Communist Regime , although recognizing it as a National  Treasure , were very restrictive to overseas markets.

After Vilmos Zsolnay’s death, in 1900, his son Miklós took over the management and at the end of 1991 the  factory was upgraded . In 1995 the business was privatised  and the main owner was the Hungarian Investment and Development Bank (MBFB) . The new owner  set a goal of  preserving  the historically significant, long tradition of  Zsolnay and making a profitable plant without changing the product structure.

Zsolnay Showroom

The Zsolnay factory today still pursues innovative design and permits designers to conceive beautiful pieces that explore modern expression and utilize their earlier technical and stylistic achievements with organic shapes and metallic glazes. It  has also revitalized  the company’s tradition of creating  architectural ceramics with the production of vividly colored weather-resistant tiles and ornamentation, from statues to decorative clocks , examples of which can still been seen on buildings throughout Hungary.

 

 

 

Zsolnay Vase

 

 

Hand painted Zsolnay vase with botanical decoration

 

 

Vase Zsolnay Museum

 

 

Classic Zsolnay Art Nouveau Figural Compote.

( John & Rico’s Zsolnay Store )

 

 

 The Viennese Rothschilds  commissioned the company to make a tea  service and  sent an illustrated book on orchids  for the design, which featured a different orchid for every piece in the 24 set.

 

 

Zsolnay vase with eosin iridescent glaze

 

 

Zsolnay ( Dr. Gyugyi Collection )

 

 

Zsolnay Ceramic Round Table

 

 

Zsolnay 60’s inspired Vase

 

 

Red Zsolnay Planter

 

 

Art Nouveau vase with pewter

 

 

Zsolnay Pitcher 1918 ( John And Rico’s )

 

 

Zsolnay Art Nouveau Fireplace

 

 

Zsolnay Eosin glazed snake vase

 

 

Zsolnay multiple handle vase

 

 

Zsolnay Art Nouveau vase

 

 

Zsolnay metallic glaze ewer

 

 

Zsolnay butterfly vessel

 

 

 

Zsolnay red tulip

 

 

Zsolnay Art Nouveau vessel

 

 

 

 Zsolnay Art Nouveau cachepot.

John & Rico’s Zsolnay Store

 

 

Zsolnay iridescent glaze vase

 

‘Thinking’  – Zsolnay contemporary sculpture

 

 

Mid Century Zsolnay Pitcher

 

Zsolnay ceramics vase with  hunting scenes of Diana the Huntress

 

 

Zsolnay Manufactory gardens

 

 

Zsolnay Fruit Bowl

 

 

Zsolnay coiled python sculpture

 

 

 

Zsolnay Table Lamp with Green Taurus Figurine

 

 

 

Zsolnay centrepiece with four female figurine supports

 

 

 

Zsolnay Art Nouveau iridescent glaze vase

 

 

 

Unusual Zsolnay eosin glaze figure sculpture

 

 

Art Nouveau mermaid and lover vase – Zsolnay

 

 

 

Turquoise mottled surface vase – Zsolnay

 

 

 

Zsolnay Esoin Three Graces figure vessel

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