Kate and William's dinner party porcelain revealed
Tuesday, 7 June 2011 9:27 AM
Until last week, all I knew about Herend was that it was a high-end Hungarian porcelain manufacturer – so when I was invited to view the current collection and see the set that had been given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Prince William and Kate Middleton) as a wedding gift, I jumped at the chance.
It turns out that Herend is something of a national treasure in Hungary: part state-owned, part owned by its workers, the company is one of the world's last remaining true porcelain specialists and a huge employer in the local area.
Each piece of its exquisite tableware is crafted onsite from start to finish and it takes years of training before an employee is set loose with a paintbrush. Take a look at the intricacy of any piece of Herend porcelain and you'll have to admit, it shows.
The dinner set that was given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is particularly special because its 'Royal Garden' design showcases a modern interpretation of Herend's Victoria pattern, which was originally created in 1851 for Queen Victoria. Indeed, Herend has long enjoyed royal connections, with Princess Diana also having been a fan.
So if you've ever wondered what a dinner party at William and Catherine's pad (currently Clarence House) might be like, at least now you know what the food would be served in. However, at £170 for a dinner plate and £808 for a soup terrine, it's probably not a tableware look you'll be able to experience for yourself – unless you get lucky and score an invite.
The Royal Garden collection by Herend is available at Thomas Goode.
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