Haban

Haban, member of the community of Anabaptists who moved from Switzerland through Austria to Bohemia and then, in the 16th century, migrated to northern Hungary.

During the 17th century the renewed vigour of Roman Catholicism forced groups of Habans to leave Habsburg-ruled Hungary for Transylvania. The community, which was made up mainly of artisans, was famous for its pottery. The form and decoration of the so-called Habaner faience ware (jars, jugs, plates, bowls, tiles, and even small barrels) originally displayed Tyrolean and Italian influences. This was succeeded by a more Hungarian style that reflected Turkish influence as well as that of delftware in its floral motifs in blue, yellow, green, and manganese purple on a white tin glaze or white decoration, or (more rare) white decoration on a cobalt blue base. From the last decades of the 17th century the Habans’ art gradually merged into Hungarian and Slovakian folk culture. The Habans themselves took up the Catholic faith during the 18th century.