A rare and monumental Zsolnay ceramic vase, crafted over 120 years ago, has been brought back to Hungary and will be on public view free of charge in the garden of the Kőrössy Villa on the Városligeti fasor in Budapest for five days, starting Friday.
The striking Art Nouveau vase, created in 1905 by Sándor Apáti Abt at the renowned Zsolnay porcelain manufactory in Pécs (southwest Hungary), features a symbolic scene of five dancing female figures encircling a pomegranate tree—representing beauty, fertility, happiness, and prosperity. Measuring 110 cm in height, 46 cm in diameter, and weighing 100 kilograms, the piece is made of pyrogranite and is considered one of the finest examples of early 20th-century Hungarian ceramic art.
Zsolnay ceramics from the Gugyi collection, designed by Sándor Apáti Abt. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
At a press event on Tuesday celebrating the artwork’s return, art collectors András Szabó, founder of the ResoArt Foundation, and István Törő, co-owner of the Virág Judit Gallery, shared the story behind the vase’s rediscovery and repatriation.
In András Szabó’s view, the vase was originally showcased at the 1906 Milan International Exhibition, where it likely held a prominent place in the Hungarian pavilion, which was later destroyed in a fire.
Törő explained that photographs from the time confirm the vase’s central role in the display. While the fire damaged many of the artworks — including this one — it is believed the pavilion was later rebuilt, and a second, nearly identical vase may have been exhibited in its place.
The newly recovered vase recently surfaced at a French auction house, prompting initial skepticism due to the existence of a known identical piece in Hungary. That first vase had previously been auctioned in 2013, by the Virág Judit Gallery and is now held in the Janus Pannonius Museum in Pécs. Art historian Éva Csenkey was the first to suggest that a second example existed in France, sparking the collectors’ interest and eventual purchase.
Kőrössy (ResoArt) Villa. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
“Zsolnay ceramics are experiencing a renaissance,” said Törő. “They are now among the most sought-after ceramic artworks on the international market, with the most exceptional pieces fetching close to $100,000.”
Szabó added that the artistic craftsmanship and technical expertise required to produce such a vase no longer exist, even at the current Zsolnay factory. “The knowledge that made this masterpiece possible has been lost over the past 120 years.”
To celebrate the vase’s homecoming, the collectors are offering free of charge public access to the piece from Friday through Tuesday, between 11 AM and 2 PM daily, in the garden of the Kőrössy Villa.
Beginning October 1, the villa will also host weekly guided tours and themed evening programs focused on the 1906 Milan World’s Fair, where the vase was first unveiled.
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Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Hatházi Tamás
The post Majestic Zsolnay Vase Returns Home after a Century Abroad appeared first on Hungary Today.
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