A Whimsical Eosin Glazed Earthenware Vase
Designed by Lazslo Mack for Zsolnay Pécs, circa 1898
Moulded to depict owls, stamped on the underside ZSOLNAY PÉCS
11 ½ in (29.2 cm) high
cf. Zsolnay Ungarische Jugendstilkeramik, exh. cat., Österreichesches Museum für angewandte Kunst, Wien, 1986, p.98, no.93 – for a flower-pot with owl decoration
11 ½ in (29.2 cm) high
cf. Zsolnay Ungarische Jugendstilkeramik, exh. cat., Österreichesches Museum für angewandte Kunst, Wien, 1986, p.98, no.93 – for a flower-pot with owl decoration
In 1853 Miklós Zsolnay established the first manufacture of ceramics for his son Ignác in Hungary. Ten years later, Vilmos Zsolnay, Ignác's younger brother, took over the management and within a short period of time developed the small plant into a factory. The factory's first major achievement was at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna where it received an enormous number of orders from England, France, Russia, and even America.
The success achieved during the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris was tremendous. The jury praised the Zsolnay collection as unique and the factory received the gold medal, or the so-called Grand Prix. At this same time, Vilmos Zsolnay was appointed a member of the Legion d'honneur. The company's success continued in Melbourne in 1880, Brussels in 1888, Chicago in 1893 and Antwerp in 1894. At the exhibition organised in 1896, on the occasion of the millennium of the Hungarian Kingdom, the factory introduced its most beautiful pieces, using a glaze called 'eosin'. The Emperor awarded the Franz Joseph Order to Vilmos Zsolnay, and the city of Pécs gave him the title of Honorary Town Citizen.
Eosin was the name given to a rich iridescent glaze developed in 1893 by Zsolnay's ceramics chemist, inspired by Clément Massier's lustre ware. Eosin glazes were applied to detailed sculptural work and vases in vibrantly contrasting colour schemes. Results included freestanding sculptures of women and animals, much like this owl vase.
After Vilmos Zsolnay's death in 1900, his son Miklós took over the management of the world-famous factory. During this time, the new style, Art Nouveau, prevailed in decorative art. Art Nouveau involved an approach to design which artists expressed on everything from architecture to furniture, making art functional or a part of everyday life.
Other works by Zsolnay are held in the collections of the Musée Janus Pannonius (Pécs).
The success achieved during the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris was tremendous. The jury praised the Zsolnay collection as unique and the factory received the gold medal, or the so-called Grand Prix. At this same time, Vilmos Zsolnay was appointed a member of the Legion d'honneur. The company's success continued in Melbourne in 1880, Brussels in 1888, Chicago in 1893 and Antwerp in 1894. At the exhibition organised in 1896, on the occasion of the millennium of the Hungarian Kingdom, the factory introduced its most beautiful pieces, using a glaze called 'eosin'. The Emperor awarded the Franz Joseph Order to Vilmos Zsolnay, and the city of Pécs gave him the title of Honorary Town Citizen.
Eosin was the name given to a rich iridescent glaze developed in 1893 by Zsolnay's ceramics chemist, inspired by Clément Massier's lustre ware. Eosin glazes were applied to detailed sculptural work and vases in vibrantly contrasting colour schemes. Results included freestanding sculptures of women and animals, much like this owl vase.
After Vilmos Zsolnay's death in 1900, his son Miklós took over the management of the world-famous factory. During this time, the new style, Art Nouveau, prevailed in decorative art. Art Nouveau involved an approach to design which artists expressed on everything from architecture to furniture, making art functional or a part of everyday life.
Other works by Zsolnay are held in the collections of the Musée Janus Pannonius (Pécs).
