Antique Iris Multicolor Tea Saucer 6 In D

Reintroduced in 2007 with a revitalized color palate, research has revealed that this pattern dates from the 1850s. Four different central motifs depict an iris flower. This flower has been used for centuries (dating back to the Egyptians) as a symbol. In fact, a fleur-de-lis is actually a stylized iris and while many royal houses of Europe (including Hungarian kings) have used it, it was the French who popularized it by incorporating it into their flags and crests. For them, the three petals of the iris (or fleur-de-lis) signified faith, wisdom and valor. 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.