Following a worldwide trend towards cherishing the individual style of handmade ceramics, more and more Hungarian artisans are creating contemporary clay pieces that are becoming quite popular in Budapest. As the city’s gastronomy scene is increasingly emphasizing simplicity and naturalness, many fine restaurants here now use these Magyar-made plates, bowls, and other ceramic artworks as an appropriate canvas for serving their understated specialties. Here we present five young designers making impressive ceramic tableware, along with some Budapest eateries where they are in use every day.
All the pottery series of Tünde Ruzicska are small, independent universes – which is not surprising, since she usually creates them by special order – and they fit a particular function or the client’s needs and the given brand’s character in every detail. Tünde undertakes each task with great empathy; for her, the impressions of personal encounters with clients are especially inspiring. She makes her porcelain and stoneware products in a wood-fired kiln, which requires serious mental and physical strain, since the fire must be maintained at a certain temperature for hours. Her works are rather well known among Budapest gastro fans, since she designed the sets of Tanti Restaurant and ZHAO ZHOU; currently she’s working on a brand-new collection with chef Eszter Palágyi for Costes.
Prices: cups: 3,800 HUF, plates: 5,000-10,000 HUF Website
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Gábor Somoskői launched his brand with a series of sleek cups, mugs, and bowls intended for everyday use. He works with simple shapes, and makes his products unique and contemporary with subtle nuances and painted or masked geometric décor. Kezemura is shaped by the experiences of its designer – journeys, trips, newly discovered techniques and colors – and naturally, the requests of his customers. The relationship with our objects is very important to him, so he strives to create ceramics that provide a unique experience. In addition to the tableware line, he recently started working on a collaboration: he made a white and gray planter collection for Wild Flower Bar, specializing in cut flowers and potted plants.
Available at: The Garden Studio, Mono art & design, Csendes - A Pesti Szatócs, Wild Flower Bar (planter collection)
Prices: cups: 3,500-4,500 HUF, mugs: 3,800-6,000 HUF, bowls: 4,000-6,500 HUF, planters: 5,000-8,000 HUF Website
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Judit makes her porcelain and ceramics sets – which can be combined perfectly, and thus offer an endless arsenal of possibilities – in her workshop in Szentendre. Her remarkably sophisticated bowls and plates are made from simple sheets, and are later glazed or painted with pastel shades. She works more and more with stoneware and porcelain, because due to the high firing temperature, these products are rather sturdy. The works of the designer don’t lack irony and humor either: her product photo series featuring tiny figures not only entertain us, but also showcase the beautiful features of her objects.
Available at: Artushka, FIAN Koncept, Magma, Mono art & design, WAMP
Prices: plates, bowls, cups: 1,500-6,000 HUF Website
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The workshop of Júlia Néma is well known and recognized by ceramics professionals, even beyond Hungary’s borders. She mainly makes ceramics in a wood-fired kiln for restaurant orders that sometimes only take shape after months of brainstorming. She has customers like Olimpia Restaurant, TOKIO, MÁK Bistro, Innio, KNRDY, or St. Andrea Wine & Gourmet Bar. In addition, she also gladly works on architectural projects and custom orders. Her factory quality works are characterized by informality, and their design is the result of lengthy experimentation. The products are made particularly exciting by the spontaneous surface finish of fire and ash. Júlia avoids techniques used in mass production, working with a potter’s wheel or freehanded, and she developed her own glaze formula. Her products can be viewed in her Budapest showroom by appointment.
Prices: by request Website
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The products of young designer Márton Strohner are custom-designed, handmade, small-series everyday objects, jewelry, and home accessories. In the Mastro selection, quality and function fit together smartly, whether we’re talking about tiny salt shakers, drinking glasses, or unique-looking vases. The brand is characterized by pleasant pastel shades and fresh matte and classic glazed surfaces. The collection is continually expanding with new pieces. Márton has also been experimenting with the interaction between porcelain and light, exploring its possible uses. His brand-new collection of large porcelain lamps and vases is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Available at: FIAN Koncept, Mono art & design
Prices: Muffin salt and pepper shakers: 3,200 HUF, Muffin vase: 31,700 HUF, Timeless wall clock (S/L): 19,000 HUF/31,700 HUF, Mouflon lamp: 108,000 HUF Website
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