Magyar News, 2002. szeptember-2003. augusztus (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-07-01 / 11-12. szám
“Landscape” vase is 8.5" tall, made in 1900 and the price is $13,500.00 Pitcher in the form of squash from the 1900, 14" tall suffered some damage. Price $12,500.00. We have been in Newport since 1985 and have been in business for over 30 years. We are more than pleased to share our knowledge about Zsolnay with your readers. We purchase Zsolnay, also from private parties. We frequently purchase Zsolnay from Conn, residents who either visit our gallery bringing their items with them or we travel to their home to purchase. If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to email us or call us. ’’ Frederico Santi. When one visits Pecs, a southern city of Hungary, in the center square no one could miss the famous Zsolnay fountain with its outstanding green color. Then wherever one goes there are the many reminders of this factory.How did this factory start? Back a century and half ago Ignác Zsolnay started producing industrial ceramics like water pipes, roofing material and insulating caps for utility poles for local consumption. It was in a small village called Lukafa that is located between the city Pecs and Teszar, where the United States had leased an airfield starting with the Yugoslavian conflict. After ten years of struggle the brother Miklós took over the production and laid the foundation of the present factory in Pecs. Then Vilmos Zsolnay continued and brought tremendous appreciation. By the 1870s a little factory started to produce a variety of ceramics. Around 20 people did the work. The first success of their products was in 1873 at the World Exhibition in Vienna. This was followed by orders from many countries. Also at other exhibitions around the world. At the Millennium of the Hungarian Kingdom Vilmos was awarded the Royal Order, and became Honorary Town Citizen of Pécs. The three children of Vilmos Zsolnay helped out with design, development and sales.They even built their homes on the property. In a short time the production elevated to the level of leading European factories. With the ivory color glaze the Zsolnay factory became the first to produce artistic ceramics in Hungary. Vilmos Zsolnay was very interested in special glazes. With the help of Vocational School Principal Lajos Petiik, and Vince Wartha, Professor at the Technical University, broke the code of a Chinese glaze, developed it into many colors and named it "eosin". Two daughters, Terez and Julia, designed artistic ceramics with Hungarian and Persian motifs and the ceramics became a success throughout Europe. By the turn of the century Vilmos died and the son, Miklós, took over and once again the industrial, more profitable ceramics became the profile of production, though he left the artistic production undisturbed. Part of this was fancy ceramics for buildings. He was also developing many differ-Page 7 A beautiful red rose on a golden stem Vase with Hungarian style flowers from 1906, is 10” tall and is priced $12,500.00 A 22 ” tall Zsolnay lamp, 1900, representing Loli Fuller ballett dancer of the time. Price $25,000.00 Made in 1900, this piece in excellent condition is 4.5” tall. It has been sold This almost 4 ” tall vase with Turkish style motives from 1912 has the price $2,500.00
