Overview

A large hand-painted folk earthenware charger from Karcag, a historic pottery town in the Nagykunság (Greater Cumania) region of Hungary’s Great Plain. The impressed mark on the reverse reads “Kun Gazda – Tóth / Karcag,” attributing the piece to the Kun Gazda and Tóth pottery families, renowned master folk-pottery clans of the Karcag workshop community. The bird-and-flower composition, redware body, and wire-fitted reverse are all consistent with the mid-century folk-art revival of this region, likely dating to circa 1950s–1970s. Karcag remains one of the celebrated living centers of the Middle-Tisza Hungarian folk-pottery tradition.

Design & Craftsmanship

Function & Form: A wheel-thrown glazed earthenware charger, approximately 17.5 in in diameter, 3 in tall, with an interior depth of about 2.5 in. Twisted-wire loops are fitted through the reverse for wall display.
Artistry & Ornamentation: The face carries a cream/buff slip ground hand-painted with a central bird — a peacock or stylized songbird — amid stylized flowers and scrolling foliage, worked in teal-green, iron/rust-red, and dark manganese-brown, with dotted bands and a bold scalloped, wavy rim border. The palette and motif are signature to the Karcag / Middle-Tisza folk tradition.
Structural Base: The reverse is finished in a warm terracotta lead-type glaze and carries the impressed maker’s stamp “Kun Gazda – Tóth / Karcag,” with added twisted-wire hanging loops.

Condition Report

Surface Condition: A glaze chip with exposed clay body is present at the rim; light overall surface wear is consistent with age. The decorated face remains bright and the design intact.
Structural Integrity: The plate is sound and stable with no cracks observed apart from the noted rim chip; as glazed earthenware it is nonetheless fragile and should be handled with care. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.

hungarian bird plate

Hungarian Karcag Folk Pottery Charger — Hand-Painted Bird & Floral Wall Plate, Signed Kun Gazda Tóth, c. 1950s–70s