Unbroken success – or the secrets of Hollóházi, Kalocsai and Zsolnay manufactories

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Uzonyi Nóra

Kalocsai Porcelán Manufaktúra Hollóházi Manufaktúra Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra

Kalocsa, Hollóháza, Zsolnay quarter... literally a fancy triumvirate! And what do they have in common? The handcrafted porcelain! We have put together a list of three Hungarian porcelain manufactories, some of which offer hours of sightseeing. We will show you the decadently sophisticated details!

Cornflower and butterfly: colour trills of the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory

While staying in Pécs, let’s visit the famous Zsolnay quarter, and among the many other sights, let’s visit the Zsolnay manufactory founded by Miklós Zsolnay! Interestingly, it is not the founder of the manufactory, but his son, William, who is ultimately responsible for its world-famous success, as he dreamed up the special techniques that make Zsolnay Porcelains so unique.

Through the glass wall of the showroom, you can get an insight into the entire production process and learn all about the secrets of Vilmos Zsolnay’s eosin glazing, firing and painting, apart from the details that are kept as a closely guarded secret.

Hello, Hollóháza: the antique and modern face of porcelain

Although the younger generation may not be a fan of porcelain, Hollóházi Porcelain’s collection also includes an Instagram-compatible coffee set. In the showroom and exhibition hall, you can see not only these, but also other masterpieces of the porcelain manufactory, suitable for home decoration or even for weddings. In the museum, you can learn about the history of Hollóházi Porcelains, the different collections and even get a behind-the-scenes look at the entire production process. Those who like a creative challenge can also try their hand at porcelain painting with skilled help at the creative centre.

And if all you want to do after all this is take a breather with a hot or iced drink, there is also a café on site.

Kalocsai Porcelain: fragility adorned with floral serenity

Known for their floral designs and folk art motifs, the porcelains of Kalocsa are world famous. The good news is that a 40-50 minute guided tour of the Kalocsa manufactory will show you the magical process of turning the liquid mass into fired, glazed porcelain, and if you pay attention, you can even learn more about the know-how of the painting process. Foreigners are also welcome to visit the manufactory; guided tours are available in English, German and Italian languages.