Augarten Porcelain Museum: Discover 300 Years of Viennese Porcelain History and Design

Discover 300 years of Augarten's history through its permanent collection of Viennese porcelain. The exhibition traces the evolution of porcelain from its origins and the founding of the manufactory to its development through classicism, modernism, and contemporary design.

The Porcelain Museum in the Augarten offers a journey through 300 years of Viennese porcelain history, showcasing original objects that span from its origins and the establishment of the Viennese manufactory in 1718 to the present day. The exhibition delves into the "arcanum," the closely guarded formula for creating porcelain, highlighting its unique qualities of lustre, enduring colours, and flavour neutrality after firing. It chronicles the manufactory's flourishing periods, particularly under Conrad von Sorgenthal, noting the influence of classicist design, technical advancements, and masterful gold relief work that garnered European acclaim. In the 20th century, the refounded Wiener Porzellanmanufaktur Augarten (1923) continued this legacy, embracing the spirit of the Wiener Werkstätte and Art Déco. Artists such as Michael Powolny, Vally Wieselthier, Josef Hoffmann, and Mathilde Jaksch were instrumental in shaping its modern identity. Post-1945 design continued this spirit of innovation with clean forms, new decorative motifs, and geometric patterns reflecting the changing times. Today, Viennese porcelain is still meticulously handcrafted in the manufactory, maintaining a connection between tradition and contemporary design, positioning the museum as a vibrant space for art, design, and cultural history.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays. Further visitor information can be found via the provided links.