An Essential Guide to Viennese Porcelain: Discover Master Craftsmanship and Design

This guide explores Vienna's rich tradition of porcelain craftsmanship, highlighting renowned manufacturers like Augarten, Mano Design, feinedinge, and Hollyaroh. Discover exquisite handcrafted tableware, decorative pieces, and unique souvenirs that embody Viennese style and artistry.

Vienna boasts a long and esteemed history of porcelain production, extending beyond the globally recognized Augarten Manufactory to include several skilled artisan ateliers. Augarten, one of the oldest porcelain manufacturers, carries a legacy of over 300 years. Their porcelain is meticulously crafted and hand-painted, with designs often developed in collaboration with renowned artists. Iconic pieces include the 'Wiener Rose' décor from the Biedermeier period and Josef Hoffmann's world-famous Melon service from 1929. Contemporary designers like Marco Dessi continue to innovate with modern forms and minimalist décor while honoring the three-century tradition. Beyond classic tableware, Augarten offers whimsical decorative items such as the Frog King Fridolin or a donut-shaped porcelain box. Mano Design, founded by designer Hedwig Rotter, is a younger atelier producing tableware, vases, and lighting objects. Her designs humorously play with conventions, with the Vienna Collection featuring motifs like the Giant Ferris Wheel or the Viennese skyline. In the 'Dots' series, she creates perforated bowls and vases, and another collection turns the mold for vase production into the product itself. Mano Design also offers fairytale-themed porcelain figures. Sandra Haischberger's manufactory, feinedinge, offers tableware, vases, and candleholders made from delicate porcelain, all handcrafted in Vienna and open for viewing in their directly attached workshop. Special Viennese souvenirs include their charming Vienna cups. Anna Holly's manufactory, Hollyaroh, located in the 8th district, specializes in colorful porcelain featuring pastel shades and playful graphics, with particularly elegant lemon squeezers. Souvenir items include porcelain wares adorned with motifs of Sisi and Franzl. Andrea Steinhauser presents "Kaffeehaus am Ring," a unique series of jewelry featuring handcrafted porcelain adorned with coffee house motifs like Sachertorte, Melange, and Viennese pastries, available as rings, earrings, brooches, and pendants. Products are available in select Viennese shops.