The raw material

Kaolin is the most important raw material of porcelain manufacturing apart from feldspar and quartz.

Plaster mould making

The negative of the porcelain product is being made, that is the aid of porcelain manufacturing.

Plastic paste for throwing

From the raw materials, after mixing with water, we acquire two kinds of pastes: in the picture you can see the pressing of the viscous throwing paste.

Throwing

The paste is shaped unto the plaster mould.

Porcelain made by throwing

The finished, still raw porcelain plate.

Liquid paste for casting

The more viscous casting paste is produced by the addition of extra water and other additives.

Casting

The plaster mould absorbs a significant portion of the water content of the paste, and the solid grains stick to the wall of the mould: thus an object fitting the plaster mould can be obtained.

Porcelain made by casting

The solidified object becomes visible by splitting the plaster mould.

Woven porcelain basket - the beginning

Special technology: basket weaving.

Woven porcelain basket - final touch-ups

The shape of the woven basket is achieved by strands that are rolled and fitted individually.

Porcelain rose - first petals

Porcelain rose in the making.

Porcelain rose - finishing touches

Bewitching hands shape and put together the various flowers, petal by petal.

Finished porcelain rose

The finished raw porcelain rose.

Plastic decorations

The plastic flower decorations are placed onto the objects.

Putting the figure together

This is the way pieces made of several parts - typically figures - are put together.

The tool for open-work

With a special double-edged knife, the open-work is effected with extreme precision.

The process of open-work

Each tiny hole is made individually by hand.

Finishing touches prior to firing

The porcelain is cleaned, polished and recorded prior to firing.

First, biscuit firing

Expert hands prepare the raw porcelain objects for the first firing, which is performed at ca. 950°C.

Glazing of the porcelain

After the first firing the objects are glazed.

Second, glost firing

The glaze is fired at a higher (ca. 1400°C) temperature, and the object gains its glistening shine.

Porcelain paint

Porcelain paints are different powder-based metal oxides.

The preparation of porcelain paint

The powdered paint is mixed with turpentine and with its evaporated remains (the so-called thick oil) making the paint spreadable and processable.

Palette

Our porcelain painters work with a multitude of colours.

Contour drawing

At times the decoration or the pattern is drawn with pen.

Special brush

The drawn pattern is coloured using squirrel-hair brushes.

Porcelain painting - flower

Various shades are used to paint the pattern.

Porcelain painting - butterfly

Even the tiniest of motifs are painted by steady hand.

Figure painting

The figures can be decorated in a number of ways.

Applying stripes

Along the edge of the plate a stripe is being made.

Gilding

In Herend we use real gold. The decoration is followed by another decor firing (at ca. 800°C) to allow the pattern to fire onto the surface and dress the product in its spectacular garb.