Herend collectibles are fine porcelain works of art. Some of the most exquisite pieces are painted animal figurines. Herend figurines are typically very skilled works of art. They are made by hand and also hand-painted so it takes a lot of time to make one of these very high-end collectibles. The design of the Herend collectibles relates very well to timeframe when these were first being manufactured. Herend porcelain gets its name from the Hungarianvillage where the Herend porcelain factory was located.
Herend
History of Herend Collectibles
The Herend factory was founded in 1826. When this factory first started, it produced a lot of pottery and earthenware. The company was founded by a man named Vince Stegal. It wasn’t until the factory had its second owner that it started to produce high-quality porcelain items. The second owner’s name was Fischer and he was the one who is primarily responsible for the Herend porcelain that we have today.
As a business genius, Fischer found a way to appeal to the richer members of society, by hiring master craftsmen to paint the pieces of porcelain. As a result, the porcelain pieces quickly became worth a lot more. In the 18th century, owning Herend collectibles was something of a fad. Even Queen Victoria enjoyed her own personal collection of these porcelain figurines. Not only did she collect Herend collectibles, but she collected fine porcelain and China pieces from all over the world. If you go to England, you can actually see her porcelain on display today.
Herend Porcelain takes its name from the small Hungarian village were, in 1826, the Herend Porcelain factory was founded. The fact that every Herend collectible is hand painted (and some are even gilded!) is what sets the fine workmanship of Herend items apart from other fine decoratives. Each piece is either painted by one of the Herend artists, or by an apprentice who works under the actual Herend artist. Herend Porcelain distinguishes itself from many other porcelain collectibles by being such delicate pieces of art.
When Vince Stingl founded the Herend factory in 1826, it was to make earthenware pottery. The second owner of the Herend factory (Mór Fischer) is the one responsible for elevating the earthenware pottery to beautiful porcelain items. He wanted to cater to the richer, more socially upward clientele. And, he did just that! Queen Victoria was one of the people who enjoyed the Herend porcelain.
In today’s market, there has been a comeback for Herend products. Herend collectibles are very popular. Herend porcelain is known for its high quality.
Every collectible that you find today is hand-painted, and the workmanship is extremely fine. A lot of the early pieces were either painted with blue or with red paint. These colors were very popular during the 18th century. Sometimes the color that was used to paint the porcelain can also add to its value. These pieces are truly delicate artwork, they are crafted by master craftsmen and as a result, they are try pieces of art. Original pieces of Herend porcelain are very valuable.
Types of Herend Collectibles
The most valuable and rare are their animal figurines. After that, there are also a lot of other pieces that include fine China, dishes, plates, and mugs. Because they are hand-painted, the value of each one of these can vary significantly depending on who the artist was who painted the piece and the time frame it was done. Typically, the older pieces are more rare and a lot more expensive.
More History on Herend Porcelain
What truly made Herend collectibles popular was the ability to take them to national art exhibits and have them win awards. Herend porcelain was successfully displayed in Vienna in 1845, and it was also displayed at a famous exhibition in London in 1851. The quality of pieces presented at the exhibitions brought praise and recognition for the parent brand. Another thing that made them popular was their ability to provide custom made orders. They made their money based on their ability to cater to the demands of the upper class, including the royalty. Whenever they used this strategy for marketing, it helped make their company extremely profitable.
After Mr. Fisher’s death, the company passed on to his sons and grandsons. When they focused on the artistic abilities, the company flourished. When they sought to manufacture in bulk, they didn’t do nearly as well.
Herend Collectibles’ Making
All Herend collectibles are made using a hard paste porcelain. After it is carefully cleaned, and shaped, it is put into a fire at 830°C. After that, it is replaced and then heated to even hotter temperatures. These hot temperatures help to provide a lasting and high quality finish to this porcelain. It also makes the porcelain almost translucent so the colors look sharper. Once the porcelain is translucent, it is ready to be painted on.
The true beauty of the porcelain isn’t just the porcelain, but the delicate art works that are painted on it. The most popular pattern was named Victoria after the queen of England ordered Herend porcelain to add to her esteemed collection. It had butterflies and blossoming branches painted in vibrant colors.
The great thing about Herend collectibles is that they have been around for a long time. Because they have been around so long, they are likely to maintain their value. Plus over time, as the pieces you own become older, it can actually become worth more. Not only that, but these pieces of art are beautiful and you can use them for decorating your home or office.
