In the 1890s, Vilmos Zsolnay’s factory introduced eosin, an iridescent glaze technique named after the Greek goddess of dawn, Eos. Wilmos was inspired to search for the recipe for the iridescent luster coating by the work of the French ceramist Clement Massier. The “Rouge flambé” (red eosin) glaze, with its glassy iridescence and depth, the recipe of which is still a secret of the company, was developed on the basis of the experiments of Vince Warth and Lajos Petrik and presented at the World Exhibition in 1896.

The success of the Zsolnay brand products was brought by the works of such masters as the symbolist artist Sandor Apati-Abt (1870-1916), Josef Rippl-Ronai (1861-1927), the French artist Nabisa, the Pre-Raphaelite artist Walter Crane (1845-1915), Lajos Mak ( 1876-1963), best known for his Art Nouveau figured ceramic vessels.

It is thanks to the leadership of Vilmos Zsolnay, a Hungarian industrialist and entrepreneur, that the company is still famous for its bright projects and innovative developments.

Vilmos Zsolnay himself was engaged in the design of ceramics, and from 1875 his daughters Teresa and Julia joined him. They started as self-taught, but very quickly reached a high artistic level. Therese developed motifs in the style of folk “lordly” embroidery, and Julia preferred the oriental style. Especially willingly she turned to the Ottoman-Turkish (Iznik) and Japanese aesthetics. Julia became an established artist, a member of the Hungarian Society of Fine Arts and exhibiting at the Art Society in Vienna.

Thade Sikorski (1852-1940), Julia’s husband, worked at the factory from 1883 and was chief designer from 1890-1910. Numerous art projects are associated with his name, his work received a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. It must be said that the skill of Sandor Apati Abt, one of the most famous ceramists of the factory, was awarded a silver medal at the same exhibition.

After the death of Vilmos Zsolnay in 1900, his son Miklos Zsolnay took over the management of the factory. In the 20th century, the company experienced many difficulties: wars, nationalization, sale and change of owners, nevertheless, it still operates under the Zsolnay brand today.