1873 was an important date in the history of both Vienna and Budapest. In that year the World's Fair was held in Vienna. At the same time, three cities on the banks of the Danube merged to create Budapest. The Vienna World Expo brought  the first success for the Zsolnay manufacture in 1873. The professional jury was enchanted by the product range made in Pécs, which was rewarded with a grand bronze medal and diploma recognition. The Austro-Hungarian monarch rewarded Vilmos Zsolnay with the Ferencz Jozsef Order of merit. 

International markets opened for Zsolnay, and experience gained at the Vienna World`s Fair made Vilmos begin experimenting with high-temperature glazes. The experiments of the ever-busy Vilmos Zsolnay working continuously in his laboratory in Pécs resulted in his first invention: The porcelain faience technique which was used for making both household goods as well as decorative ornaments. The peculiarity of Zsolnay’s porcelain faience invention laid in the fact that the object made was decorated by glaze instead of porcelain paint. 

Encouraged by their initial success in Vienna, the Zsolnay family decides to continue their commitment to bringing their porcelain pieces to new markets across the world. At the 1878 Paris Universal Exposition, pieces made by Zsolnay earn a gold medal and Vilmos Zsolnay is awarded the Cross of the French Legion of Honour. The factory participates regularly at representative exhibitions abroad and at commercial and industrial shows in Hungary. In 1880 Emperor Franz Josef I visits the Zsolnay factory, signalling the outstanding success of the enterprise.

In 1896, at the Hungarian Millenial Exhibition in Budapest, Vilmos Zsolnay presents his latest technical achievement; the Eosin glaze. He is awarded the Order of Franz Josef, Second Class. In 1900, the same year that Vilmos Zsolnay passed away, his children continue the legacy of success by participating in the Universal Exposition in Paris. Zsolnay designers Sándor Apáti Abt and Tádé Sikorski win silver and bronze medals while Miklós Zsolnay is awarded the Cross of the French Legion of Honour. 

In 1886 the Zsolnay Manufacture introduced a frost-resisting building material called Pyrogranit. This new and innovative material was quickly picked up by some of Hungary's most influential architects such as Ödön Lechner and Miklós Ybl.

Pyrogranit allowed the creation of fine and detailed ornaments which could be used on the facades of buildings. These ornamental ceramics were extremely popular during the Art Nouveau movement which had a strong hold on European architecture at the time. Several Hungarian landmark buildings, including the Parliament building and the Museum of Applied Arts, demonstrate the exceptional achievements of the Zsolnay factory in the production of architectural ceramics.