The porcelain pilgrimage continues to Budapest and Vienna

I had a short day in Budapest on Sunday before leaving Hungary. I went for the second time to the Museum of Decorative Arts. Last time was in 2005, when one of the curators with connections to the ICSHU sent her intern around with me to visit store rooms full of ceramics of all ages and types. There was a Zolnay show up in the galleries, too. This time it was textiles but they also had a wonderful show of their collection up with some great European porcelains included. The building itself is spectaclar with, you might have guessed, Zolnay tiles for the roof and entrance. I have also included a photo of the main market with Zolnay tiles.

Vienna is a beautiful city, so bright, clean and well run. Their Decorative Arts Museum (MAK) was amazing. It is also housed in a spectacular building (are you getting the idea that the decorative and applied arts and design are more appreciated in Europe than the US?). They had a ceramics study collection of almost 1000 pieces. My biggest frustration is that they did not allow photos, not even with an extra fee. I had a book in German as a guide and I took copious notes, some in German, for my research. Vienna had an active porcelain production. I am looking for similarities and difference in the major porcelain producers, in techniques, quality and imagery. The final image included is the Majolica House - and people live in it!

Visit to Pecs for Zslonay luster

Pecs is a beautiful, award winning and sophisticated city (please disregard the MacDonald’s on the corner of that building in the lovely square).

Pecs was the home of the Zsolnay factory, famous for its lusterware production, including the colorful roof tiles gracing many buildings in Hungary. The factory has been closed for some time, but the town has a museum of the production. I have included some examples.

The tour included some interesting architecture on the way and a stop for a wine tasting on the way home in Hungary’s famous wine region.

Trip to the Herend Porcelain Factory

As part of the symposium we participated in two field trips. The first was a trip to the Herend Porcelain factory and museum. We had a private tour – this is a rarity I might add but the connections at the ICSHU opened this door to us.

First we were taken to the showroom, where only serious shoppers and wholesalers are brought in to see their entire line - others are relegated to the factory shop to buy. Then we were taken around the factory (managed to get one picture until they told us they were not allowed) to see all phases of their amazing production. I now know why they charge $300.00 – 500.00 for a cup and saucer – everything is handmade and decorated! No decals here.

The tour was given by one of their 3 major designers Tamas Akos. The factory was amazing - clean, people dressed in white uniforms talented people working with impressive equipment that made this production possible to make.

Afterwards, we had a run through the museum and topped the visit off with coffee and pastries served on Herend plates and cups at the café. We boarded our mini-bus to head to Lake Balaton for a meal at a restaurant overlooking the lake. We took a ferry across on our way home. All in all, a most informative and enjoyable time was had by all!

My studio in Hungary

I had about a quarter of a large room to work in although I spent my first few days in the plaster rooms making about 8 molds of the 3D rapid prototyped models I have a fired example of one of the 35 objects I made with the molds. The pieces are not finished yet and I will be china painting, lustering and adding to the objects after I get home. The work was made in Herend porcelain, which I will write about, in the next post. It is amazingly beautiful fired in reduction to cone 12 – a cold white.

I was able to see the work I made in 2005 while at the ICSHU which is in the collection spread out in attics and basements throughout the compound. Some of that work and the work of Joe Bova and Marc Leuthold, both had also been there prior, are on exhibit at the ICHSU’s museum. It was very exciting to go back and see the work again, especially on exhibit at their elegant museum.

The Symposium - Pot on the Spot at the International Ceramics Studio - Kesckemet, Hungary

I have left Kesckemet and am in Budapest. I am hoping to catch up with this blog on my 2 weeks of adventure there now that the work is done and the crate is packed. It was a whirlwind couple weeks shared with an amazing group of people. It will take a number of these posts to catch up on all that happened and I will only be able to give you a touch.

This post is about the International Ceramics Studio and you can see the gates to what is basically a compound, private and for people serious in clay. Joe Bova, our fearless leader (although he would claim not to be our leader) had t-shirts made for us all.

International Ceramics Studio - Kesckemet, Hungary

I have finally found a few minutes to start add to my blog - I am at the International Ceramics Studio in Kesckmet, Hungary working for 2 weeks with an incredible group of ceramic artists, brought together by Joe Bova. More on that as I go along. For now - a picture of the entrance to the room I share with Elaine Henry. We have to pass through Robert Harrison's arch to get there. It is above the museum here.

There is a picture of me next to my piece in their huge and amazing collection (almost 40 years of artists working here and all leave work) from the last time I worked here in 2004.

Janos Probst, Director, hosted a goulash feast for us with his homemade Palinka for the toast. The goulash is cooking over the fire in the traditional way.

I am hustling to make pieces - first I made about 10 molds from 3D rapid prototypes I had made ahead before coming. Now I am slip casting with Herend casting slip. We had a trip to the Herend factory and museum I will describe in another post. Amazing!

There is just a day or two more to make work and get it fired so I am back to the studio. Keep checking in for more! Vislat! Anna

Natura Vita - the latest

I have continued with this series using laser decals with vintage ebay decals and luster. The plates are 6" x 6" commercial plates.

I will have some very new work soon as I am headed to the International Ceramics Studio again in a few weeks. I am taking 3 d rapid prototypes with me to cast in the luxurious Herend porcelain. I will be documenting the work through this blog - keep checking after the 19th of June!