Permanent exhibition

The Porcelain Museum in the Augarten tells the history of Viennese porcelain through original objects—from its origins in China through the founding of the Viennese manufactory in 1718 to the present day. Discover the arcanum—the once closely guarded formula of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, which fuses in the heat of the kiln into one of the most remarkable materials in the history of design. Malleable and delicate in its processing, porcelain reveals after firing its distinctive lustre, enduring colours, and flavour neutrality.

The manufactory experienced a particularly flourishing period under Conrad von Sorgenthal from 1784: classicist formal rigour, technical innovations, and masterful gold relief work established its reputation across Europe. In the 20th century, the Wiener Porzellanmanufaktur Augarten, refounded in 1923, drew on this tradition in the spirit of the Wiener Werkstätte and Art Déco. Artists such as Michael Powolny, Vally Wieselthier, Josef Hoffmann, and Mathilde Jaksch shaped its modern identity.

After 1945, porcelain design was marked by a spirit of new beginnings: clean forms, new decorative motifs, pastel tones, and geometric patterns reflected the zeitgeist. To this day, Viennese porcelain is created in the manufactory through meticulous handwork, bridging tradition and the present. The Porcelain Museum in the Augarten sees itself as a place of art, design, and cultural history—and as a living space in which the fascination of this extraordinary material remains tangible.