Herend - Tea service (15) - Bone china

Rare Herend Frutta Porcelain Tea Service — Teapot, Sugar Bowl, Milk Jug, 6 Cups and 6 Saucers

A charming antique Herend porcelain tea service, with hand-painted fruits, delicate gilding and an intriguing London provenance.

This delightful six-person tea service is a beautiful example of the artistry and refinement for which Herend porcelain has been celebrated for generations.

Particularly appealing is its provenance. The service was acquired in London in the early 70's and purchased partly from Fortnum & Mason and partly from Thomas Goode, two distinguished establishments renowned for their luxury goods and fine tableware. According to its history, the service has remained virtually unused since its acquisition, preserving its remarkable freshness and decorative charm.

The combination of its colourful fruit decoration, elegant gilding and beautifully modelled rose-shaped finials gives this service a distinctive character, making it equally suitable for a collector of fine European porcelain or someone wishing to add a touch of timeless elegance to a traditional tea table.

The Tea Service

The set comprises:

One Herend teapot with a rose-shaped finial.

One lidded sugar bowl, also adorned with a rose-shaped finial.

One milk jug.

Six porcelain cups.

Six matching saucers.

The cups and saucers feature the delightful Frutta pattern, with hand-painted fruits and foliage in a variety of vibrant colours. The decoration is complemented by delicate gilded details, creating an attractive contrast between the freshness of the fruit motifs and the refined elegance of the porcelain.
One of the particularly interesting features of this set is its soft, slightly warmer white background.
Unlike the brilliant, almost stark white commonly seen in modern porcelain today, the white of this vintage Herend set has a gentle, more subtle quality. This softer ivory-white tone lends the porcelain a certain warmth and understated elegance, beautifully complementing the delicate fruit decoration and giving the set a charm that is quite distinct from contemporary pieces.

Each piece reflects the painstaking hand-decoration for which Herend is renowned. Subtle variations in the painting lend the service the individual character associated with traditional hand-crafted porcelain.

Whether displayed in a cabinet or brought to the table for a special occasion, this is a particularly decorative service that combines practical elegance with the enduring appeal of fine porcelain.

Condition.

The condition is exceptional. The porcelain remains remarkably fresh, with no chips, cracks, crazing or repairs.

Its reported history of very limited use makes this an especially appealing acquisition for collectors who appreciate well-preserved porcelain with an established provenance.

Dimensions:

Teapot: Height 14 cm; diameter 23 cm; capacity 1.2 litres.

Cups (6): Diameter 10 cm; height 6.5 cm.

Saucers (6): Diameter 15.5 cm.

Sugar bowl: Height 10 cm; diameter 10 cm.

Milk jug: Height 9 cm; diameter including handle 12.5 cm.

The service will be professionally packaged with particular care to ensure that these delicate porcelain pieces are protected during transit.

Herend Porcelain — A Royal Tradition

Few names in European porcelain possess a history and prestige comparable to Herend.

The factory was founded in 1826 by Vince Stingl in the village of Herend, near Lake Balaton in present-day Hungary. In 1839, the enterprise was acquired by Mór Fischer, whose ambition and commitment to excellence transformed Herend into an internationally respected porcelain manufacturer.

Under his direction, Herend concentrated on the production of fine porcelain, combining traditional craftsmanship with intricate hand-painted decoration.

International Recognition and Royal Patronage

Herend's international reputation received a decisive boost at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, where its porcelain attracted the attention of an international audience and the European aristocracy.

The most celebrated chapter in the factory's history followed when Queen Victoria commissioned a service decorated with colourful butterflies and peonies. The pattern subsequently became known as the Queen Victoria pattern, in honour of the British monarch.

Royal patronage brought Herend considerable prestige. The factory became a favoured source of fine porcelain among aristocratic households and discerning collectors, establishing an association with elegance, craftsmanship and social distinction that endures to this day.

A Living Tradition of Craftsmanship

Herend's reputation rests not simply on its royal connections, but also on the exceptional skill of its artisans. Its porcelain tradition combines meticulous production with elaborate hand-painted decoration, requiring considerable patience, precision and artistic sensitivity.

Nearly two centuries after its foundation, Herend remains one of the distinguished names in European porcelain.

To own a piece of Herend is to appreciate more than a beautiful decorative object: it is to possess a small part of a remarkable European artistic tradition, shaped by generations of skilled craftsmen and women.