Description

History of Viennese porcelain

In 1718, Claudius Innocentius du Paquier completed a risky mission to bring the closely guarded secret of how to make porcelain to Vienna. In recognition of his achievements, Emperor Karl VI granted him the special privilege of being Vienna’s sole porcelain producer. This is how Europe’s second porcelain manufactory (the first one was in Meissen) came to be founded in Vienna in the street which is today known as “Porzellangasse”.

1744 – 1780 Maria Theresia

1780-1833 Sorgenthal and Classicism

1830 – 1864 Biedermeier and early Historism

1923 – Art Déco and Modern

Augarten

In 1923, the porcelain manufactory was reopened in Augarten Castle, where it still stands today. Established under the new name “Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten”, its ethos was to continue the tradition of the former Imperial manufactory while also making room for fresh ideas. Receptive to modern trends, the Manufactory produced designs by contemporary artists including Josef Hoffmann, Michael Powolny, Franz von Zülow, and other representatives of the Vienna Workshops (Wiener Werkstätte). Today, cooperation with well-known artists continues to shape the company’s style and feed its unique flair for combining the traditional with the modern.

Augarten Today

The Vienna Porcelain Manufactory creates innovations with artists and designers since its foundation.

Gundi Dietz, Thomas Feichtner, Philip Bruni, Gottfried Palatin or Gabriele Rothemann are just a few designers, who have created one-of-a-kind porcelain items in the last few years. The perfume flacon Vulpini from the designer duo Wendy & Jim is one of the pieces, which shows the symbiosis of tradition and innovation in the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten.