The Augarten museum
Experience 300 year's of Viennese porcelain art
Experience 300 year's of Viennese porcelain art
The Porcelain Museum at Augarten is located in a side wing of today’s Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten. An original kiln, rising impressively through both exhibition levels, forms the architectural centerpiece of the building. Through more than 150 representative exhibits, the museum illustrates the eventful history of Viennese porcelain and its diverse artistic phases of development.
On the upper floor, the exhibition begins with a look to the Far East, recounting the origins of porcelain in China and the passionate collecting and representational culture of European princely courts. This enthusiasm ultimately led to the rediscovery of the formula for “true” porcelain in Europe and, in 1718, to the founding of the first Viennese manufactory by Claudius Innocentius du Paquier. The individual stages of production are also clearly presented. Visitors can not only see the essential raw materials—kaolin, feldspat, and quartz—but also experience them haptically.
The ground floor is dedicated to the 20th and 21st centuries. In 1923, the porcelain manufactory was re-established at its current location in the Augarten. In the spirit of the Wiener Werkstätte and Art Deco, numerous figures and table services were created, designed by renowned artists of their time. Among the most important designers were Michael Powolny, Vally Wieselthier, Josef Hoffmann, and Friedrich Ludwig Berzeviczy-Pallavicini. To this day, designers, sculptors, and painters continue to engage intensively with the material of porcelain—exploring both its aesthetic possibilities and the technical demands of its complex production. In addition to its permanent presentation, the Porcelain Museum at Augarten hosts a special exhibition each year dedicated to historical or contemporary themes related to Viennese porcelain.
Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
closed on Sundays and public holidays
No advance booking necessary
Guided tours for larger groups, school classes or special tours at your preferred date, even outside regular tour hours. NÖ-Card etc. not applicable. To register, please contact us by phone at +43 1 211 24 - 200 or by e-mail.
The Porcelain Museum in Augarten is dedicated to the design and cultural history of the finest porcelain art—a tradition of the highest elegance and mastery. Our digitization project, Cultural Heritage Viennese Porcelain Digital, is generously supported by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport and the European Union.
This support enables us to preserve the fascinating world of porcelain, curate special exhibitions, make the manufacturing process visible, and present our cultural heritage in a vivid and contemporary way. We thank our sponsors for their commitment, which ensures the significance and longevity of this unique art form for future generations.
