FINE Wine & Champagne India - Winter 2018

P o r c e l a i n H u n g a r i k u m
FINE Experience
The legendary Hungarian porcelain
maker was founded in 1826 by
Vince Stingl and christened in the
town where it was born, an agricultural
district not far from Lake Balaton, the
largest lake in Central Europe. Herend
balances tradition and innovation that
transitioned into the 21st Century.
The values of skills passed through
generations, time tested traditions of
porcelain making, secret recipes that
bring the ingredients to life, the drive
for outstanding quality and continuous
renewal are embodied. Focussing on
tableware, ornaments and figurines,
Herend creations have been inspired
by numerous artistic styles to create
the very unique and very characteristic
Herend world.
Widely awarded, Herend found
international acclaim and patronage
of the royals. The title of Supplier to
the Imperial and Royal Court, the
highest recognition from the Imperial
Court, was awarded by Emperor
Francis Joseph, who also bestowed
the Certificate of Nobility on the owner,
Mór Fischer. The pace that powered
the Herend story, as it is known today,
was set under his management who
took over the reins of the indebted
company in 1839.
Extremely large orders were
placed by Emperor Francis Joseph.
The tableware for the personal use
of Emperor was set in gold with the
imperial seal, his military officers
got pink, and his courtsmen got
lilac. Hungarian Statesman from the
19th Century, Count Albert Apponyi
inspired the Apponyi pattern. The set
that incorporated his suggestion of
the enlarged main motif of the ‘Indian
Basket of Flowers’ pattern found its
way onto the tables of the Elysée
Palace at the state reception in honour
of Emperor Francis Joseph.
A special dinner set decorated with
orientally-inspired butterflies, flowers
and blooming branches was ordered by
Queen Victoria at the Great Exhibition
in London in 1851 and is known since
as the Victoria pattern. A modern
interpretation of this pattern – Royal
Garden – was specially created for the
Hungarian State as a gift for the Royal
Wedding of the Duke of Cambridge,
Prince William. Gift pieces to mark
the christening of Prince George and
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
were created to extend the set.
At the turn of the millennium, Herend
managed to ward off acquisition
threats from global tableware majors
and re-structured itself into a very
unique ownership structure in which
almost three-fourths of the shareholding
is held by its employees. The
company has grown to become the
world's largest porcelain manufacturer
that operates as a profitable enterprise
that is proudly Hungarian.
FINE WINE & CHAMPAGNE INDIA
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