Home / Inherited China / Herend

Herend Porcelain

Inherited Herend porcelain.
Here's what it's worth.

Herend is Hungary's premier porcelain manufacturer, founded in 1826. Known for hand-painted patterns and animal figurines, Herend is still in production today — which makes dating and valuation important. Older pieces with desirable patterns regularly sell for multiples of their estimates at auction.

What Determines Value

What makes inherited Herend valuable

Herend porcelain has a well-established collector market and a reputation that holds up at auction. But not all Herend is equally valuable. Understanding what distinguishes a modest piece from a significant one starts with a few key factors.

History

Herend was founded in 1826 in the village of Herend, Hungary. It rose to international prominence after exhibiting at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, where Queen Victoria herself ordered a dinner service — giving the Queen Victoria pattern its name. The factory has operated continuously for nearly two centuries, surviving wars and political upheaval, and remains one of the most respected porcelain manufacturers in the world.

Why Herend is valuable

Every piece of Herend porcelain is entirely hand-painted — no transfers, no decals, no shortcuts. This means every piece is technically unique, with slight variations in brushwork that distinguish it from mass-produced porcelain. The quality of the painting, the complexity of the patterns, and the consistency across a full dinner service are what set Herend apart from most other manufacturers.

Key patterns

Herend has produced hundreds of patterns since the 1840s, but a handful dominate the collector market. Rothschild Bird features birds perched on branches with butterflies and insects — originally commissioned by the Rothschild family. Queen Victoria is a botanical pattern with butterflies and flowers in rich polychrome. Chinese Bouquet (also called Apponyi) comes in several colorways, with rust being the most sought after. Indian Basket features a delicate floral arrangement, and Waldstein is a more formal pattern with strong collector interest.

Figurines

Herend's fishnet animal figurines are highly collectible. These stylized animal forms — rabbits, elephants, bears, birds, and dozens of other animals — are decorated with a distinctive crosshatch pattern in various colors. Larger figurines, unusual animal forms, and rare color combinations bring the strongest prices. The fishnet technique originated at Herend in 1858, with expanded colors and broader popularity from the 1950s onward. It remains in production today.

Dating Herend

Herend marks changed significantly over the factory's history, and the mark is the primary tool for dating a piece. The earliest marks from the 1840s are simple impressed marks. By the late 19th century, the blue painted coat of arms became standard. Pre-1939 marks are the most desirable among collectors, as they represent the factory's pre-war golden age. Post-war marks include "Hungary" and later "Handpainted." A specialist can date your pieces precisely from a clear photo of the mark.

Still in production

Because Herend is still an active manufacturer, new pieces have documented retail prices — often quite high. This is both helpful and complicating for valuation. Older Herend pieces in sought-after patterns can exceed current retail values because of their age and collector appeal. But recent production pieces resold on the secondary market typically sell below retail, since buyers can purchase new from authorized dealers. The mark and age of your pieces determine which side of this equation you're on.

Most Sought-After Patterns

  • Rothschild Bird
  • Queen Victoria
  • Chinese Bouquet Rust
  • Apponyi
  • Indian Basket
  • Waldstein

Photo Tip

Photograph the blue Herend mark on the bottom of at least one piece — this is how specialists identify the age and authenticity. Also capture any hand-painted pattern number near the mark, as this identifies the specific pattern and helps with valuation research.

Real Auction Results

What inherited Herend has actually sold for

These are verified results from recent auctions — real Herend sets and services that came out of estates. Several sold for multiples of their pre-sale estimates.

$11,000

Herend Rothschild Bird Dinner Service

256 pieces. Estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, 2016
$12,000

Herend Queen Victoria Service

89 pieces. Estimated at $3,500–$4,500.

Burchard Galleries, 2016
$7,500

Herend Queen Victoria Green Border

Estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

Doyle, 2017
$16,730

Herend Part-Dinner Service

Estimated at $6,000–$8,000.

Christie's New York, 2004
$5,000

Herend Queen Victoria Service

60 pieces. Estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

Major auction house, 2015
$10,000

Herend Rothschild Bird Service

143 pieces. Estimated at $4,000–$6,000.

Weschler's, 2009

An Honest Take

What usually isn't valuable

Part of a useful evaluation is knowing what doesn't carry significant market value. Being honest about this upfront saves time and prevents disappointment.

Small individual pieces without rare patterns

A single Herend cup, small plate, or ashtray in a common pattern has limited resale value. Herend's reputation is built on full services and significant decorative pieces. Individual items from standard patterns are widely available on the secondary market and do not command premium prices unless the pattern is rare or the form is unusual.

Common fishnet figurines in standard colors

Herend fishnet figurines have broad appeal and are widely collected, but the most common small figurines in standard colors — green, blue, rust — are produced in large numbers and sell for modest amounts at resale. They retain some value but should not be expected to bring investment-level returns. Rare colors, large forms, and unusual animals are the exceptions.

Partial sets missing key serving pieces

A Herend dinner service missing its tureens, platters, or covered vegetable dishes is significantly less valuable than a complete set. Serving pieces are the hardest to replace and the most likely to have been damaged or lost over decades of use. A partial set can still sell, but the price reflects the gaps.

Recent production pieces resold below retail

Herend pieces purchased new within the last ten to twenty years and resold on the secondary market typically bring well below their original retail price. Buyers prefer to purchase new from authorized dealers when the price difference is small. The secondary market premium applies primarily to older Herend with earlier marks and patterns that are no longer in production.

Related Guides

← Back to Inherited China Guide

Ready to Find Out

Not sure what your Herend is worth?
Submit photos and we'll tell you.

Free evaluation. No expertise needed. A specialist responds within 24–48 hours.

Get a Free Herend Evaluation

Common Questions

Frequently asked about inherited Herend

Herend porcelain is identified by the mark on the bottom of each piece — typically a blue stamp featuring the Herend coat of arms or the word "Herend" along with "Hungary." The style of the mark changed over the decades, which helps specialists date pieces precisely. Every piece of genuine Herend is hand-painted, so you may also see a hand-painted pattern number or decorator's mark alongside the stamped factory mark.
The most valuable Herend patterns include Rothschild Bird, Queen Victoria, Chinese Bouquet (especially in rust), Apponyi, Indian Basket, and Waldstein. Complete dinner services in these patterns regularly sell for thousands of dollars at auction, particularly when they include full place settings and serving pieces. Limited edition patterns and early production runs of classic designs command the highest prices.
Herend fishnet figurines are collectible and hold value, but the range is wide. Rare animal forms, unusual color combinations, and larger pieces bring the strongest prices. Standard small figurines in common colors are widely available and sell for modest amounts on the secondary market. Older fishnet figurines with earlier marks tend to be more desirable than recent production pieces.
Generally yes. Herend is still in production, and new pieces carry well-documented retail prices. Older Herend — particularly pieces with pre-1939 marks — can exceed current retail values because of their age, rarity, and collector appeal. However, a recent piece in a sought-after pattern may hold its value well, while an older piece in a less desirable pattern may not. The mark, pattern, and condition together determine whether age adds a premium.
Herend porcelain is dated primarily by its factory mark. The earliest marks from the 1840s are simple impressed marks. By the late 19th century, the blue painted coat of arms became standard. Pre-1939 marks are the most desirable. Post-war marks include "Hungary" and later "Handpainted." A specialist can date your pieces precisely from a clear photograph of the mark on the bottom.
Complete Herend dinner services in sought-after patterns are consistently strong sellers at auction, often exceeding pre-sale estimates. The key factors are completeness, pattern desirability, and condition. A full service for eight or twelve with serving pieces in a pattern like Rothschild Bird or Queen Victoria can bring thousands of dollars. Partial sets still have value but may be better suited to dealer sale. A free evaluation from photos can tell you exactly where your set falls.