The Manufactory of Herend [antikvár]

THE MANUFACTORY OF HEREND Ceramics are actually the most ancient chronists of humán culture; objects found at the sites of medieval Hungárián settlements are as conclusiveas thearchivalia in bearing recordof the craftsmanshipdisplayed by Hungarians in pottery. Such relics are being found atevery step in County Veszprém too where Herend lies. As a a matter of fact, the manufactured ceramics of this region were pioneering in the Hungárián art of ceramics and of porcelain-making. Itistouching to read in the old documents about the capital shortage and the - often vain - efforts of these workshops: one of them was the predecessor of what is now the worldfamous Herend Porcelain Factory. There is documentary evidence as for its existence in 1826 when its activity was connected with the name of Vince Stingl native of Sopron. Dated from the year 1826, the minutes of the Veszprém County Council include following entry: "Vincentius Stingl Figulus vei amphorarius Geschirrmacher in posessione Herend." This small manufactory produced earthenware in the style and taste of that age and experimented alsó with porcelain production. It becomes evident from the documents available that between 1826 and 1830 Stingl borrowed large funds for developing his manufactory but that these loans did not cover the needs. He was therefore forced to deliver his workshop to one of his creditors, to Mór Fischer. Fischer's capital investment (1839) brought new life to Herend. The first attempts of porcelain-making were adapted to the Baroque-like taste ofthe 40's. Unknown so far even in its own country, the Herend manufactory was soon able to produce porcelain ware fully satisfactory both in quality and in painted decor and its exhibits at the First Hungárián Industrial Show in 1842 came as a surprise to all. This successful entry laid the