ZSOLNAY
Porcelain Manufacture Jsc.
More than Art
„It’s More than Manufacture It’s Art Academy It’s ZSOLNAY”
Bachar Najari (Factory owner)
Warsaw
Berlin
Kiev
Prague Paris Munich
Vienna
Budapest Pécs
Geneva Milan
Venice
Rome
Zagreb
History
The Zsolnay brand has stood for tradition, individuality, artistic value, and constant renewal for over 160 years. Throughout its long history, it always managed to create something new and of fundamental importance to the current era. It has played a pioneering role both technologically and with regard to artistic techniques, and managed to attract the most renowned contemporary scientists, artists, and architects.
Although 1,400 new patterns were developed between 1900 and 1902, along with several new forms of glazing, Miklós’s period of management was characterised by the predominance of industrial production. By 1910, the production of artistic and decorative objects received a lot less attention. To satisfy the demands of contemporary infrastructural developments, the factory focussed on the production of architectural ceramics, stoves, pipes, and insulation.
The story of Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacture Jsc. started in Pécs, in the year 1853. It was then that Miklós Zsolnay turned the hard tile manufactory of Lukafa into Zsolnay Hard Tile Manufactory. After the company was incorporated, Zsolnay transferred the company to his son, Ignác, in 1854, and had the original articles of incorporation amended. The workshop that Ignác Zsolnay led for 10 years had rudimentary equipment, and was designed to utilise manual power. It employed impoverished potters (around 8 to 10 of them) who had produced their wares for the local market, and were unable to compete with mass-produced goods. The company made stoneware dishes, architectural ceramics, and water pipes.
During World War I, the production of decorative objects and architectural ceramics all but stopped completely. They were replaced by industrial porcelain, especially electrical insulation, which was used by the army. The global economic crisis and impoverishment that characterised the period after the war, along with the loss of raw material resources as a result of the new political and customs borders had a very adverse effect on the Zsolnay factory. The problems were exacerbated by Miklós Zsolnay’s illness, which was becoming increasingly more serious.
The workshop was struggling with lack of capital, development, and automation, and it had all but failed in the face of stiff competition on the market. It was saved from being sold off at an auction by Ignác’s brother, Vilmos Zsolnay, who took over the company in 1865, after spending a year as a silent partner. After that, the workshop developed into a world-famous factory. In the mid-1870s, the company had between 15 and 20 labourers. The main driving forces behind its development were foreign experts and the Zsolnay family. Both Vilmos and his children, Teréz, Júlia, and Miklós took an active part in improving the quality of the products, expanding their range, and establishing and maintaining customer relationships. Experimentation and development became continuous, and the workshop became so much a part of the family’s life that they even built their own homes on the premises. Thanks to their relentless efforts and the perfect technique and beauty of ivory glazing and high-fired decoration, the company soon caught up with the best in contemporary ceramics industry, and became the first factory to produce artistic ceramics in Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Hungarian and Persian style decorations designed by Teréz and Júlia Zsolnay in 1874 remained the most characteristic patterns used by Zsolnay until the end of the 1880s, and they boosted the reputation of Hungarian ceramics both within and without the country. Miklós Zsolnay took over the management of the company after his father’s death in March 1900. He was a highly skilled and well-educated businessman who spoke several languages, and he redefined production in the factory to ensure maximum utilisation and to guarantee the maximum possible profit. Thanks to the new business he attracted, the Zsolnay factory managed to solidify its position on the domestic and international markets thanks to the addition of lucrative architectural ceramics and industrial porcelain products to range of the decorative pieces, which were less profitable.
When Miklós died in 1922, the factory was taken over by his nephews, whom he had adopted, and who had filled managerial positions for several years by then. The postwar period was characterised by slow development, a complete reorganisation, and the systematic introduction of electrical machinery. This coincided with phasing out of porcelain faience and the launching of the manufacturing of porcelain. The company’s survival was secured by converting to the production of porcelain, so porcelain kitchenware was soon added to the range of porcelain insulation products. In the first few years of government control, the primary focus was on renovating the buildings damaged in the war and ensuring the continuity of production. During the first five-year plan, the ‘Zsolnay’ Porcelain Factory Nationalised Company of Pécs, as it was then known, made mostly industrial porcelain. Thanks to electrification and industrial development efforts, the production of utility and ornamental dishes was resumed in 1953, and the first steps towards designing a new kind of pyrogranite were taken. In 1955, the stove and architectural ceramics businesses were revived. In 1963, the company lost its independent status, and was merged into the National Company for Fine Ceramics under the name of Pécs Porcelain Factory. The history of the factory complex is intertwined not only with those of a city rich in historical and cultural tradition and of an exceptionally talented family, but also of the whole of Hungary. The name of the Zsolnay Family and the depiction of the five towers after which the city was named in the Middle Ages have become known and recognised all across Europe and around the world during the periods when industry and commerce were not restrained by borders, social and economic development were inspired by a desire for progress, and the unobstructed blossoming of culture and the arts. With it’s amazing history, and importance in art and culture of Hungary, in 2014 Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactue Jsc. has awarded by the state of Hungary with the highest price, Zsolnay became a HUNGARICUM!
Eosin
This is Zsolnay’s most unique product, and the glazing technique used is inimitable. Every object is unique and irreproducible. Eosin was developed in the 1890s by Vilmos Zsolnay, with the help of Lajos Petrik, the Principal of the Industrial School of Budapest, and of Vince Wartha, a Professor at the University of Technology. The name derives from the Greek “eos” (flush of dawn), in reference to the pale red colour of the end-product. In addition to a range of eosin colours, several finishing techniques were also developed at the Zsolnay Factory, including hand-painting, etched, and marbled. Eosin products were first produced in 1893. The technology of making this colourful and iridescent glazing is a closely guarded secret to this day. It is used to create decorative objects and building ornaments of various sizes. As the birth of eosin coincided with the emergence of art nouveau around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the new forms and decorative motifs were used to full effect by world-famous artists such as Sándor Apáti Abt, Lajos Mack, Géza Nikelszky, and József Rippl-Rónai, who created some truly astounding works of art using this technique.
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643516543283901 40x14cm
643516543283911 40x14cm
403530670084461 52x27cm
403510457003081 34,5x16cm
643516543283921 40x14cm
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403518764070491 34x15cm
643518764085151 34x15cm
403518764073761 34x15cm
643518764085151 34x15cm
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403530928370961 36x22,5cm
643510730084841 34x17xcm
403511172071251 21x18cm
403510717084781 22,5x17cm
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403510071363641 48,5x20
643515684186151 93x59cm 303510071223261 48,5x20cm
633515684177571 93x59cm
643510071385731 48,5x20cm
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403781102072871 15,5x35,2x23,5cm
40351383506691 31x25cm
403510644867001 29x41cm
403716072075171 16,5x37cm
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643900250075651 38x3cm
303909970171621 40x3cm 643519761084421 32,5x8,5cm
403514101368801 17,5x24cm
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403417037074221 28,5x36cm
643710733085461 25x30cm
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501573901030070 15,8x15,8cm
501573901010070 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 03 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 04 15,8x15,8cm
501573901020070 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 01 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 05 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 06 15,8x15,8cm
501574100000070 20x20cm
Sample02 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 07 15,8x15,8cm
Sample 08 15,8x15,8cm
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Porcelain
The decoratice porcelain objects and wonderful tableware are easily recognised by their ivory colour. They are made using a unique and plastic decoration technique, burnt at a very high temperature. Vilmos Zsolnay was inspired by the fine material of Chinese porcelain and the richness of the colours of their glazing. He was committed to refining the base materials, and spent years searching for new substances and experimenting with innumerable kinds of glazing. He developed a new, softer glazing, and a novel decoration process to match it. The rich colours of the motifs used to decorate the body of the objects, originally made of porcelain and faience and covered with a soft porcelain coating, are unique in the whole world. This new glazing technique is also characterised by a plasticity to its decorative motifs, achieved as a result of the colouring mixed into the porcelain glazing. While these items were originally made of porcelain-faience, a material that combined the best features of porcelain and faience, they are now made exclusively out of porcelain. The easily recognisable ivory glazing and the decoration technique, however, have remained unchanged. For the development of the porcelain glazing technology, Vilmos Zsolnay has been awarded the french Legion of Honour
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303510531278741 24x15cm
633510797007141 31x11,5
633510531102911 21,5x13cm
303511741078821 28x11cm
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633510783086471 55x32cm
633510871684361 65x32cm
633510883010131 49x23cm 633510071308451 45x18cm
633511170007621 24x14cm
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303281275079401 18x19cm
633512081086241 38x20cm
633512081085841 38x20cm
633512081085851 38x20cm
303281275079351 18x19cm
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633281631082331 15x15cm
303512783079211 31x16cm
633511027012241 31x16cm
633281631082331 15x15cm
303512710000001 14x20cm
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633511027012241 72x55cm
633511027085531 72x55cm
633510637084731 100x36cm
303513374079371 83x32cm
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303511502016791 40x17,5cm
633510705086171 58x44cm
303510190071941 32x19cm
633510761085751 44x26cm
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633510646084151 115x55cm 303510871530001 49x20,5cm
633510646086161 115x55cm
303510871530001 49x20,5cm
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633780718086041 28x39cm
303530928366871 37x24cm
303530928366871 37x24cm
303530928366871 37x24cm
303784660067411 24x29cm
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403781103072871 15,5x35,2x23,5cm
303781103084381 15,5x35,2x23,5cm 633511073012671 48x35cm
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633511181012681 32x17cm
633510455014701 37x26cm
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633510871685641 65x29cm 633510871585641 49,5x23cm
633909970285641 5x64cm
633909970184761 3x40,5cm
633530672084771 51x28cm
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633909970173331 3,5x40,5cm
303909970167051 4x40,5cm
633909970278831 5,5x64cm
633904246083371 4x46cm
303909970173581 3,5x40cm
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Porcelain Tableware
Spring 54
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019100001781 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219100001781 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319100001781 Cake service: 7 piece / 302449100001781 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302459100001781 Salad service: 7piece / 302419100001781
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9100/178
Summer 56
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019100001831 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219100001831 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319100001831 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302459100001831 Salad service: 7 piece / 302419100001831
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9100/183
Autumn 58
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019100001831 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219100001761 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319100001761 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302319100001761 Salad service: 7 piece / 302419100001761
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9100/176
Sissy
60
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019170001441 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219100001441 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319100001441 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302459170001441 Salad service: 7 piece / 302419170001441
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9100/144
Distance 62
Dinner service: 25 piece / 202019100032741 Mocha service: 9 piece / 202219100032741 Tea service: 9 piece / 202319100032741 Cake service: 7 piece / 202449100032741 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 202459100032741 Salad service: 7 piece / 202419100032741
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9100/3274
Olive 64
Dinner service: 25 piece / 202019100032901 Mocha service: 9 piece / 202219100032901 Tea service: 9 piece / 202319100032901 Cake service: 7 piece / 202449100032901 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 202459100032901 Salad service: 7 piece / 202419100032901
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9100/3290
Phoenix 66
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019170070051 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219100070051 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319100070051
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9100/7005
Butterfly 68
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019335000261 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219335000261 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319335000261 Cake service: 7 piece / 302449335000261 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302459335000261 Salad service: 7 piece / 302419335000261
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9335/026
Cornflower 70
9335/059
Dinner service: 25 piece / 302019335000591 Mocha service: 9 piece / 302219335000591 Tea service: 9 piece / 302319335000591 Cake service: 7 piece / 302449335000591 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 302459335000591 Salad service: 7 piece / 302419335000591
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Baroque 1. 72
Dinner service: 25 piece / 102019335060261 Mocha service: 9 piece / 102219335060261 Tea service: 9 piece / 102319335060261 Cake service: 7 piece / 102449335060261 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 102459335060261 Salad service: 7 piece / 102419335060261
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9335/6026
Pompadour I. 74
9335/6100
Dinner service: 25 piece / 202019335061001 Mocha service: 9 piece / 202219335061001 Tea service: 9 piece / 202319335061001 Cake service: 7 piece / 202449335061001 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 202459335061001 Salad service: 7 piece / 202419335061001
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Pompadour III. 76
9335/6074
Dinner service: 25 piece / 202019335060741 Mocha service: 9 piece / 202219335060741 Tea service: 9 piece / 202319335060741 Cake service: 7 piece / 202449335060741 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 202459335060741 Salad service: 7 piece / 202419335060741
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Baroque 2. 78
Dinner service: 25 piece / 102019335092571 Mocha service: 9 piece / 102219335092571 Tea service: 9 piece / 102319335092571 Cake service: 7 piece / 102449335092571 Sandwich service: 7 piece / 102459335092571 Salad service: 7 piece / 102419335092571
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9335/9257
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Pirogranite
A lot of buildings erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, typically built in the art nouveau style, were decorated using Zsolnay ceramics products. To this day, they bear silent witness to the durability of pirogranite. Pyrogranite’ refers to a range of ceramics developed by the Zsolnay company in the early 1880s. The name is a combinationof ‘pyro’, which refers to the high temperature at which the products are burnt, and ‘granite’, which signifies durability. This porous material resists acids and sub-zero temperatures, which means that it can endure damp, cold, and the polluted city air. As a result, it is ideal for decorating buildings, roof tiling, and making ornamental objects to be displayed indoors or outdoors, or stoves and fireplaces.
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504568401010530 93x59cm
504568402000530 93x59cm
504568401010530 93x59cm
504568402000530 93x59cm 504568402000550 93x59cm
504568401010050 93x59cm
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504565600009130 107x45cm
504569000009140 119x43cm 504569000009130 119x43cm
504565600009130 107x45cm 504565605000050 107x45cm
504569000009130 119x43cm
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504547400009140 127x43cm
504595600001130 130x70cm 504595600001130 130x70cm
504547400009130 127x43cm 504547400000050 504549301800520 127x43cm
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503599700000020 98x130cm 504599701000040 41x38cm
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504547300009130 128x40cm
504545709000050 128x40cm
504545700000350 504547300000050 128x40cm
504545700000340 504547300000140 128x40cm
Interior design 92
Ceramic Wallpanel
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Angkor
95
Temple Complex, Cambodia Material: Interrior glazed ceramics Production: Manufactural
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Oman
97 Desert sand, Oman Material: Interrior glazed ceramics Production: Manufactural
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Valetta
99 Fort Castrum Maris, Malta Material: Interrior glazed ceramics Production: Manufactural
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Wyoming
101 Devil’s Tower / Basalt hill, USA Material: Interrior glazed ceramics Production: Manufactural
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Marmalada
103 Dolomites, Italy Material: Interrior glazed ceramics Production: Manufactural
Contact: 37th. Zsolnay Vilmos street, PĂŠcs Hungary, 7630 Tel: +36 (72) 507-600 Fax: +36 (72) 507-604 E-mail: porcelain@zsolnay.hu