Vilmos Zsolnay
Encyclopedia
Vilmos Zsolnay was a Hungarian
industrialist and entrepreneur
. As the director of the Zsolnay porcelain manufacture
he introduced new materials and inventions into the manufacture of pottery
and ceramics
and led the company to world-wide recognition.
Zsolnay was born on April 19, 1828 in Pécs
and studies at Vienna's Polytechnical High School. He returned and joined the company in 1863 to eventually take over its management. He was able to attract talented artists to work for him, and under his directorship the small family-owned company grew into a world-renowned enterprise. The introduction of new techniques and materials was important in this development. With Vince Wartha, Zsolnay discovered the eosin process
that gives articles an iridescent glaze in multiple colors. Pyrogranite
is a ceramic building material that he introduced and that became popular with the architects of the Hungarian art nouveau
movement. He displayed his products at several World expositions, and was honored with the French Légion d'honneur
and the Order of Franz Joseph
in recognition of his artistic work.
After he died on March 23, 1900, his son Miklos Zsolnay took over the management of the manufacture.
In 1907 the city of Pécs
inaugurated a statue of Vilmos Zsolnay, the first known statue in Hungary in the honour of someone other than statesmen or clergy, highlighting his importance in the contemporary development of commerce and industry. The statue is one of main touristic landmarks of the city.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
industrialist and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. As the director of the Zsolnay porcelain manufacture
Zsolnay
Zsolnay, or formally Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt is a Hungarian manufacturer of porcelain, pottery, ceramics, tiles, and stoneware...
he introduced new materials and inventions into the manufacture of pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and ceramics
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
and led the company to world-wide recognition.
Zsolnay was born on April 19, 1828 in Pécs
Pécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
and studies at Vienna's Polytechnical High School. He returned and joined the company in 1863 to eventually take over its management. He was able to attract talented artists to work for him, and under his directorship the small family-owned company grew into a world-renowned enterprise. The introduction of new techniques and materials was important in this development. With Vince Wartha, Zsolnay discovered the eosin process
Zsolnay
Zsolnay, or formally Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt is a Hungarian manufacturer of porcelain, pottery, ceramics, tiles, and stoneware...
that gives articles an iridescent glaze in multiple colors. Pyrogranite
Zsolnay
Zsolnay, or formally Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt is a Hungarian manufacturer of porcelain, pottery, ceramics, tiles, and stoneware...
is a ceramic building material that he introduced and that became popular with the architects of the Hungarian art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
movement. He displayed his products at several World expositions, and was honored with the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and the Order of Franz Joseph
Order of Franz Joseph
The Imperial Austrian Franz Joseph Order was founded by the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria on December 2, 1849 on the first anniversary of his assumption of the Imperial Crown...
in recognition of his artistic work.
After he died on March 23, 1900, his son Miklos Zsolnay took over the management of the manufacture.
In 1907 the city of Pécs
Pécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
inaugurated a statue of Vilmos Zsolnay, the first known statue in Hungary in the honour of someone other than statesmen or clergy, highlighting his importance in the contemporary development of commerce and industry. The statue is one of main touristic landmarks of the city.