Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory

Earlier this summer, we visited the town of Herend, in Western Hungary. It is home to the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, where some of the world's finest china is made.

The company dates back to 1826, and the fine porcelain they 
produce is still completely hand-made.

During the visit to the manufactory, guests can view the different 
stages that take place in the creating of these works of art.

The holes on these bowls are carved by hand, a lengthy 
and intricate process.

All Herend china is pand painted. 

Here, an artist shows off a just finished piece, a modern take on the 
150-year-old Queen Victoria decor. This is the same pattern that 
Prince William and Kate Middleton got for their wedding.

My personal favorite, the Rothschild bird pattern...

...which I got a chance to paint! It was an amazing experience, even if
at the end my work got wiped off to be redone perfectly by the artist.

Visitors can buy all the beautiful patterns (including the one above,
which is what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have) at the
store. Let me tell you, such fine china does not come cheap.

At the end of the tour, we visited the museum, showcasing the history and many famous one-of-a-kind pieces of the manufactory. Then we popped into the cafe, where everything is served (of course) on Herend Porcelain. A fine time we had, indeed!
To learn more, visit Herend's website.

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