15. July 2008.

For the third time, Herend porcelain pieces are the official awards for the Formula 1 Grand Prix winners
The winners of the Formula 1 Budapest Grand Prix will be able to call real Hungariana their own; the official award provider again this year is the Herend Porcelain Manufactory.

All over the world, the name Herend evokes images of porcelain of dazzling beauty and perfect quality for those knowledgeable in this art. No wonder then that monarchs, heads of state, film stars, those at the peak of business and sports, and anybody else whose soul resonates to beauty have chosen the Herend trademark.

This is what the organizers of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix acknowledged by deciding to commission the Herend Porcelain Manufactory to design and create winners’ trophies once again for the 2008 Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The relationship between the Herend Porcelain Manufactory and the organizer of the Grand Prix, Ostermann Forma 1 Kft, dates back to early 2006 and came into being for the purpose of creating trophies duly representing the grandiose nature and significance of the race – in 2006 the 20th.

At that time, the three chalice vase and ornamental bowl shapes were selected from Herend’s huge catalogue. Ever since then – based on the designs by Etelka Meixner, with a different décor every year – the best drivers and teams receive them. (Their value – at a yearly level – can be estimated at HUF 10 million.)
The vases are of neoclassicist style and their shape is evocative of the vases of antiquity. They portray the best known views of Budapest – the Buda Castle in 2006, the Parliament in 2007, and the Fishermen’s Bastion in 2008. Their execution requires outstanding skill since the images must be painted taking into account the curvature of the vases so that the frontal view of the result is not distorted.

In the case of the ornamental bowl awarded to the winning constructor, this craft becomes even more noble due to the skill of the artisans working the wheel. The reticulated rim of the bowl requires the best of their knowledge and it is carved with a sharp, double edged knife when the porcelain is still in its raw stage. Afterwards the piece is prepared with white primary glaze and then decorated with rich gilding.

It is worth mentioning that it took three weeks to paint each piece and altogether three months for all of them.

Although at first sight it is perhaps difficult to find the connection between speed and horse power and hand made porcelain and the traditions of craftsmanship, there are common values: the precision of an engineer, the accuracy, and the attempting to do the impossible. All are characteristics of truly great people, regardless of whether they are in Formula 1 auto racing or the applied arts.

Herend Porcelain equals Timeless Beauty and Eternal Value.
Let Victory and Success find their place there through Herend Porcelain.

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• Lewis Hamilton