The Bogenšperk Castle Gallery was open until 15. June, an outstanding exhibition of Herend porcelain entitled TRADITION INNOVATION. Handmade and hand-painted porcelain products that are part of Hungary’s national treasure, recognised worldwide for the Hungarikum brand , which even impressed Queen Victoria of England.
The origins date back to Herend, a quiet Hungarian village near Lake Balaton, where Vince Stingl set up a small pottery workshop in 1826. The so-called manufactory was elevated to an international level by Mór Fischer, who ran it from 1839. The process of porcelain production has hardly changed since its beginnings. When the products were presented at the London Exhibition in 1851, Queen Victoria commissioned an artistically designed dinner service for her court, which impressed her with its paintings of stylised flowers and butterflies in fresh, bright Herend colours.
The exhibition at Bogenšperk was entitled TRADITION INNOVATION. “Tradition” came to life in a castle room furnished with historic furniture, as if time had stopped and we were in the 19th century. In contrast to this set-up was “Innovation”, which is key to the functioning of the manufactory – it was located in the adjacent round tower. There, masterpieces, contemporary products and the history of the development of famous decorations were on display, as well as, of course, the most famous pattern, the ornament named after Queen Victoria of England, together with its variations.