Sitting Snowy Owl Multicolor 7.75 In L X 5.75 In W X 7 In H

Contrary to their many cousins on the family tree who are mainly nocturnal, the snowy owl is diurnal in order to take full advantage of the continuous daylight of their arctic summer home in their pursuit of their favorite treat, the lemming. Their corresponding high visibility also makes them a popular owl ambassador even among non-bird watchers. From their big, piercing yellow eyes to their distinctive feathers, the snowy owl is such a beloved subject for the artists at Herend that this introduction represents an encore as a member of the Reserve Collection. Now the biggest porcelain manufactory in Europe, Herend was founded in 1826 to produce earthenware in the small Hungarian village for which it was named. At the time, Hungary was flooded with low-cost pottery, but in 1839, Mor Fischer became the Manufactory’s new owner and he decided to focus on producing dinnerware replacement pieces for Europe’s royal families to complement their valuable porcelain patterns from Germany and the Far East. As his client base grew, Fischer commissioned his artists to begin designing dinnerware patterns of their own. Queen Victoria’s 1851 purchase of a large set for Windsor Castle was a milestone, setting the stage for aristocrats throughout Europe to clamor for Herend in their estates. In the 1850s, Herend added meticulously-crafted figurines to its creations. Herend’s trademark fishnet pattern, which is widely recognized and prized as Herend’s signature design, started in 1858 when an artist who was intrigued with a Chinese plate’s fish scale design painted it onto a rooster figurine to imitate feathers.