End of an era: World-famous Kalocsa Porcelain factory bids farewell!
At the end of February, the Kalocsa Porcelain Manufactory, which for more than five decades produced the world-famous hand-painted porcelain, will close its doors for good. The factory was once one of Kalocsa’s most famous industrial centres, combining traditional Hungarian motifs with high quality porcelain making. The closure of the factory means not only the end of a factory but also the extinction of an entire profession in the region.
Although the management of the company did its utmost to survive, Kalocsai Porcelán Ltd. accumulated considerable debts over the years. The biggest problem was the lack of a stable market in Hungary. Although foreign buyers, especially Japanese and Chinese, were interested in the products, this was not enough to sustain the operation in the long term.
In 2017, the company even won a tender to promote Kalocsa porcelain on international markets, and at one point regular factory visits were made, but this was not enough. Attempts were also made to renew the product portfolio, developing more modern and streamlined product lines, but this did not bring a breakthrough in the market competition.
The fate of the porcelain company
According to Világgazdaság, the fate of the manufactory took a major turn in the 1990s when it was privatised. In 1994 it became privately owned and in 1996 it started to produce its own porcelain as well as painting. Although the new management tried to stabilise the situation, the closure of traditional folk art shops and the downturn caused by the crisis put the manufactory in a difficult situation.
According to the former manager, Ágnes Szentesi, it is a miracle that the factory has been able to operate for so long. One of the biggest problems was that small businesses had no organisation that could provide them with temporary financial assistance.
One of the most promising opportunities would have been to conquer the Japanese market, but the cost of transporting and packaging the porcelain was so high that mass exports were impossible. Although Japanese tourists were buying from the factory, it did not provide a stable income.
The company tried to obtain a reduction in VAT on hand-painted products, which were entirely hand-made, but this was refused by the relevant authorities. The porcelain was considered an industrial product and therefore did not benefit from any discounts.
The result of the closure
According to Bónusz Press Kalocsa, the closure will result in the last five workers losing their jobs, including some who have dedicated their lives to porcelain painting. The factory’s local sample shop is currently holding a sale where the last pieces are still available.
The owner is reportedly planning to sell the building, but it is not yet known whether there will be an investor who will continue porcelain making. There are speculations that the local promotional gifts company Anda Present could save the factory, but no news has been received so far.
Ágnes Szentesi hopes that the factory will be bought by a company that could restart production with the support of the local government and the Chamber of Commerce. However, the company’s heavy debts make this unlikely.
The closure of the Kalocsa Porcelain Manufactory represents a further decline in a long-established Hungarian industry, with the fate of traditional handicraft techniques and porcelain decorated with Kalocsa motifs now in doubt. If no new solution is found, another piece of Hungary’s industrial heritage may be lost to history.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
Should have asked for Mr. Szijjártós help.
Pakistan! Azerbadijan! Morocco! Strategic partners. Tremendous opportunity.
All kidding aside – since most of Hungary just buys IKEA … Unfortunately, that sort of seals it for any local production.
Just wondering, are the dishes microwave stable? Dishwasher stable? Do they represent the modern vibe tht people want for table wear? Was there a single motif that outsold others? Did they transition to making tiles for special applications, like backsplash or tiny homes’s to create a punch of wealth signalling? My mother had such gorgeous dishes, when my father died, my youngest brother disposed of everything in the condo without letting my or other relatives in Canada know or take anything…infact had my father buried without notice so no old Toronto friends or my family could attend.