Traditional Hungarian occupations

Margit Kovács

There are some famous regions that have been the home of many generations of Hungarian artists since the early 20th century. For example, Szentendre

Zsolnay porcelain is produced in Pécs (the capital of Europe in 2010). The Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, presents some 600 pieces made by Pécs’s Zsolnay Porcelain Factory between 1870 and 1910

It was László Gyugyi who collected the stolen and hidden pieces from every corners of the world and brought them back to Hungary.

The local council of Pécs decided to purchase the Gyugyi collection in November for EUR 1.3 million.

In the mid-19th century it was purveyor to the Habsburg Dynasty. After the fall of Communism in Hungary the factory was privatised and is now 75% owned by its management and workers. As of 2006, the factory is profitable and exports to over 60 countries of the world. Its main markets are the USA, Japan, Italy and Russia.Herend products are made from hard-paste porcelain using a mixture of kaolin, feldspar and quartz.After cleaning, decorating and drying, it is first fired at 830 degrees Celsius. The fired pieces are then immersed in a glaze and fired again, this time at 1410 degrees Celsius. This results in white, translucent porcelain.

Long time ago this profession was one of the most common professions in Hungary

Shoemaker

Wheelwright and wagon manufacturer

Rag-and-bone men called ‘ószeres’ in Hungarian

They were travelling craftsmen who were engaged in repairing leaky or broken pottery. They also collected unwanted household items and sold them to merchants

Their job is to make wooden objects, for example, wooden furniture, wooden bowls, baskets etc. Coopers are barrel makers

Carpenter and Cooper

Pastoral livestock trade: 1. Shepherd

There were different types of shepherds: in this picture, you can see the shepherd who looks after sheep. He usually had a sheepdog, the famous Hungarian type called ‘PULI’

2. Horse herdsmen called ‘csikós’ in Hungarian

3. Cattle Shepherd called ‘gulyás’ in

Hungarian

4. Swineherd

His job is to make, repair, alter, or clean fur garments. Traders were engaged in selling ready-made goods

Furrier and Fur trader

Blue dying in Hungary

At Nagynyárád, not far from Mohács (Southern Hungary) you can learn the secrets of blue dying form the local craftsmen

As a result, each year Hungary, which has a good position on the list of exhibitions in the region of Middle-East-Europe, organizes the market leading confectionery and bakery trade fair called UKBA.

Bakers

Nowadays amongst the branches of the food processing sector the baking industry has the highest number of independent enterprises in Hungary.

Hungarian bread has symbolic meaning as well. We celebrate the foundation of the Hungarian state on 20th August. It is the same day when St. Stephen I became the king of Hungary and the day of the first harvest – the day of the new bread which is blessed on this day, too.

Confectioners

Lajos Kopcsik, master confectioner

László Zila, master confectioner