Herend: Glorious china from Hungary

🏺 The Timeless Beauty of Herend’s Indian Basket Pattern

Posted on October 29, 2025 by Fine Vintage Treasures

Discover the history and enduring elegance of Herend’s Indian Basket pattern — first introduced in the 1850s. Learn about its royal origins, signature green colorway, and why collectors continue to treasure these hand-painted porcelain masterpieces.

A Royal Legacy in Porcelain

Among the many treasures of fine European porcelain, few designs capture timeless grace like Herend’s Indian Basket, known in Hungarian as Fésűs mintás. This celebrated pattern, introduced in the 1850s, reflects Herend’s mastery of hand-painted porcelain and its close ties to European aristocracy.

Founded in 1826, the Herend Porcelain Manufactory quickly became a favorite of royal households. The Indian Basket pattern—originally called East Indies Flowers—was inspired by 18th-century Chinese export porcelain and showcased internationally at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle.

The Design: A Symphony of Brushstrokes

Each Herend Indian Basket piece is individually hand-painted, making no two exactly alike. The design features a central flower medallion framed by a delicate basket-weave border, symbolizing abundance and harmony.

Collectors especially admire the Green (FV) version for its vivid color and versatility, though Herend also produces this pattern in Blue, Rust, Pink, and Lilac. Backstamps such as 503/FV (rim soup bowl) or 1524/FV (dinner plate) help identify size and production variations—a key detail for collectors and sellers alike.

Collectibility and Enduring Value

Still produced today, Indian Basket remains one of Herend’s most sought-after lines. Complete dinner services or matched sets often command high resale values, especially earlier pieces with rich color and clear hand-paint detail.

At Fine Vintage Treasures, we frequently feature both vintage and contemporary Herend Indian Basket pieces, from elegant dinner plates to rare serving bowls. Each piece is a celebration of handcraft, artistry, and history—perfect for the collector or the host who appreciates timeless beauty at the table.

A Tradition That Lives On

More than 160 years after its debut, Herend’s Indian Basket remains a symbol of meticulous artistry and European luxury. Whether displayed in a china cabinet or used to set a refined table, it reminds us that true craftsmanship never fades—it’s simply passed from hand to hand, generation to generation.

Herend Indian Basket 1524/FV Dinner plates