Zsolnay, Pecs

Zsolnay is one of Hungary's most renowned manufacturers of porcelain, tiles, and stoneware, distinguished by its pioneering innovations such as the eosin glazing process and pyrogranite ceramics. The company's origins trace back to 1853 when Miklos Zsolnay founded a ceramics factory in Pecs. Under Vilmos Zsolnay’s leadership, the company gained international fame, winning the Grand Prix at the 1878 Paris World Fair and showcasing its excellence at major exhibitions like the 1873 Vienna World Fair.

In 1893, Zsolnay introduced eosin porcelain, an iridescent, metallic-glazed ceramic favored by Art Nouveau artists like Sandor Apati Abt and Jozsef Rippl-Ronai. Its signature hues-red, green, blue, and purple-remain a hallmark of the brand. Earlier, in 1886, Zsolnay developed pyrogranite, a durable, frost-resistant ceramic widely used in Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture. Architects such as Odon Lechner and Imre Steindl incorporated it into landmarks like the Hungarian Parliament, Matthias Church, the Museum of Applied Arts, and the Gellert Baths in Budapest, as well as the Post Office Palace in Pecs.

By 1914, Zsolnay was Austria-Hungary’s largest ceramics company, but World War I, market losses, and wartime damage led to its decline. Nationalized under communist rule in 1948 as Pecsi Porcelangyar, it shifted to mass-produced tableware. Regaining independence in 1982, it became a stock company in 1991 and was privatized in 1996. In 2012, Swiss-Syrian businessman Bachar Najari acquired it from the city of Pecs.

Alongside the still-operating factory, the Zsolnay Museum in Pecs offers visitors an in-depth look at the company's artistic and technical legacy. Showcasing an extensive collection of Zsolnay ceramics, the museum highlights the evolution of the eosin and pyrogranite processes, as well as the artistry that made Zsolnay a cornerstone of Hungarian design and architecture.

Today, Zsolnay continues to be a symbol of Hungarian craftsmanship, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation. Its distinctive ceramics remain sought after by collectors and architects alike, ensuring the brand's legacy endures in Hungary and beyond.