The Porcelain Gleam of Socialism

The exhibition Porcelain gleam of socialism presents superlatively designed porcelain serveware from the period between the ‘50s and the end of the‘80s. Exhibits are the products of Jugokeramika (later on Inker), the biggest factory of the ceramics industry in former Yugoslavia.

Visitors of the exhibition will have an opportunity to see the first plate that exited the chamber kiln, customers’ favorite services, multi-awarded products as well as trial series, sketches, photos and drafts. Services for hospitality industry (the service Arena and the distinguishing mug with a blue line) remained a synonym for the Yugoslav tourist industry.

Jugokeramika started working in 1953 and from its beginnings also exists the Design Department whose creative core were Jelena Antolčić, Anica Kuhta Severin, Dragica Perhač and Marta Šribar. Although Jugokeramika shared problems of the entire industry of its time – protected economy, directed production, lack of systematic design method – designers managed to reach high design quality in many products.  Products of Jugokeramika won numerous awards on domestic and international competitions and were exhibited, as part of the prize-winning Yugoslav interior on the 11^th Milan Triennale (1957).

Before it closed in 2009, the factory donated around 400 objects and plentiful documentation with original drawings and sketches. Completeness of the Jugokeramika archive – from drafts to product documentation – is exceptionally rare in comparison with other companies in former Yugoslavia, while its materials represent valuable contribution for filling out the puzzle of design history. ­

Author: Koraljka Vlajo

Visual identity:  Bilić Müller Studio

Production: Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb