Herend Porcelain

Herend Porcelain Manufactory survived a difficult beginning

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory was founded in 1826 in its namesake city of Herend in Hungary by the ceramicist Vinzenz Stingl (Stingl Vince) from Sopron (German Ödenburg). Persistent financial difficulties, however, forced Stingl to sell the company to his fellow countryman Moritz Fischer von Farkasházy (Fischer Móric, 1799-1880). Fischer initially refrained from bringing complete dinner services of his own production onto the market and instead focused primarily on complementary pieces for existing services of Asian and European production owned by wealthy Hungarian aristocratic families. This strategy brought the desired and much-needed success: the experiences gained, and contacts made helped the Herend Porcelain Manufactory to design and position its own high-quality products on the market. Its own creations were well received at the great exhibitions of the 19th century in London, Paris, Vienna and New York and received many awards.

Rise to one of the most coveted porcelain producers in Europe

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory was soon able to attract an illustrious group of buyers which included Queen Victoria of England, the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, and the prestigious and influential Rothshild, Esterházy, Apponyi and Batthyány families. Many services and collections were also named after their prominent patrons in their honour, for example the Victoria dinner service decorated in the Chinese style with flowering branches and butterflies, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the World’s Fair in London in 1851. The Herend Porcelain Manufactory went on to supply Buda Castle (Budavári Palota), Palace Gödöllő, and Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. In 1869, Moritz Fischer von Farkasházy was made a peer by King Franz Joseph I in recognition of his services, and the Herend Porcelain Manufactory was appointed supplier to the Imperial and Royal Court in 1872. Only two years later, however, the economic crisis of 1874 and strengthening competition almost threatened bankruptcy. Moritz Fischer’s sons took over the management of the company in 1876, but could not prevent the manufactory’s increasing downturn in importance and a reduction in the quality of production. 

The fascination for Herend porcelain remains unbroken to this day

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory was sold in 1883 and converted into a joint stock company, whilst the collapse of part of the factory building in 1892 meant a temporary halt in production. Moritz Fischer’s grandson, Jenõ Farkasházy Fischer set new highlights in collaboration with Hungarian Art Nouveau artists, but still had to contend with economic adversities. The Manufactory was dependent on foreign investors after the First World War and the disintegration of the imperial and royal warrant, but faced bankruptcy during the Second World War and was nationalised in 1948. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Herend Porcelain Manufactory was again privatised, and at the present time the employees hold 75% of the shares. To this day, production is based on old patterns, with added newer creations. On the occasion of its 175th anniversary in 2001, the Herend Porcelain Manufactory was declared a Hungarian cultural treasure.