A Guide to Herend Figurines: Colors & Collecting

Herend figurines are small porcelain animals shaped and painted entirely by hand in Herend, Hungary, where the manufactory has worked since 1826. If you already know the history, our Herend Porcelain Guide covers how a piece is made and how to read the backstamp. This guide is the practical companion: how the colors work, which animals to start with, and how collectors build a shelf one piece at a time.

Paris Tableware & Gifts, a store in Ridgewood, New Jersey, carries hundreds of Herend figurines and ships them across the continental US, with free shipping on orders over $150.

The Fishnet Colors

Most Herend animals are painted in fishnet – a fine scale pattern brushed over the white porcelain, with 24k gold accents on the face, feet or details. The same model is usually made in several colors: blue, raspberry, green, key lime, butterscotch, rust, chocolate, black and sapphire are the ones you will see most. Some pieces pair two colors, such as blue-raspberry. Each color is painted by hand, so no two pieces are exactly alike.

Collectors tend to organize in one of two ways: one animal in many colors, or one color across many animals. Either way, the color you choose first often becomes the thread that ties the whole collection together.

Where to Start: Six Animal Families

Bunnies

Herend Bunny with Heart Figurine

Bunnies are the largest Herend animal family in our store, with well over a hundred designs; this one holds a heart – an easy first piece and a sweet gift. It comes in many fishnet colors, including blue, raspberry, green, key lime, butterscotch and black. See all Herend bunny figurines.

Dogs

Herend Labrador Retriever Figurine

About 3 in long, in chocolate, black, butterscotch, blue or raspberry fishnet – pick the color of the family dog, or the one that matches your room.

Herend Dachshund with Sweater Figurine

A dachshund in a sweater, hand-painted in a wide range of fishnet colors. More breeds in Herend dog figurines.

Cats

Herend Mischievous Cat Figurine

Just 1.5 in high, in rust, key lime, raspberry, butterscotch or black – small enough to tuck onto a bookshelf. See all Herend cat figurines.

Birds

Herend Love Birds Figurine

A 2 in pair of love birds in blue, blue-raspberry or key lime-raspberry fishnet – a natural choice for weddings and anniversaries.

Herend Owl Miniature Figurine

A 1.75 in owl in raspberry, green, black or blue – the kind of small piece collectors buy in every color. More in Herend bird figurines.

Elephants

Herend Dancing Elephant Figurine

A 2.75 in elephant mid-dance, in blue, key lime or raspberry fishnet. See all Herend elephant figurines.

Frogs and Other Characters

Herend Yoga Frog Figurine

Herend has a sense of humor: a frog holding a yoga pose, 2.5 in long, in raspberry, green, key lime, sapphire or blue.

Herend When Pigs Fly Figurine

A winged pig, 3 in long – a classic gift for the friend who finally did the thing they said they would never do.

Sizes: Miniature to Showpiece

Many Herend animals are small – the pieces above run from 1.5 to 3 in – which is why collections grow quickly. Miniatures fit on a windowsill or a desk; larger pieces become the focal point of a room.

Herend Large Peacock Figurine

At 9.25 in high and 9.75 in wide, the Large Peacock shows what Herend's painters can do on a grand scale – a showpiece for a collector.

Tips for Starting a Collection

Buy one piece first. Live with it, then decide whether you are collecting by animal or by color.
Group in odd numbers. Three or five small figurines read as a collection; two can look like an accident.
Mix sizes. One taller piece behind two or three miniatures gives a shelf depth.
Dust, don't wash. A soft, dry brush keeps the gold and the painted detail bright.
Mark the occasions. A new piece each birthday or anniversary turns the collection into a family record.