Among Bory Jenő’s historically inspired porcelain sculptures, the work entitled Hungarian Nobleman occupies a prominent place. It is one of the best-known results of his collaboration with the Herend Porcelain Manufactory.
The statue represents a characteristic member of the seventeenth-century Hungarian high nobility in ceremonial dress, holding an armorial shield. The richly decorated attire, the mente, the feathered headdress and the heraldic motifs are all symbols of Hungarian noble culture and identity.
The figure is not a portrait of a particular historical person, but a type representing the historical role and traditions of the Hungarian nobility. Through this work Bory Jenő turned to the social actors of Hungarian history and, alongside kings, military commanders and saints, also gave form to the memory of the noble estate.
The statue was especially suited to porcelain sculpture. The masters of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory made the figure with rich colouring and gilding, with the minute details of the costume, the fur-trimmed mente, the ornate belt, the arms on the shield and the ornament of the clothing rendered with exceptional care. The work embodies both sculptural and decorative-art value.
Hungarian Nobleman fits well within the series of historical works that Bory Jenő designed for the Herend Porcelain Manufactory. The porcelain sculptures of the Holy Royal Family and Suleiman the Magnificent also belong to this group. These works demonstrate that Bory was not only a creator of monumental public memorials, but was also able to represent figures from Hungarian history in smaller-scale works of art intended for collectors and for representational purposes.