Viennese Porcelain Manufactory

The Vienna Porcelain Manufactory stands in Alsergrund, Vienna’s ninth district, on Porzellangasse. Founded in 1718 by Claude du Paquier, it was Europe’s second-oldest porcelain factory after Meissen. The firm began as a private venture but was purchased by Empress Maria Theresa in 1744 to save it from financial collapse. For 25 years after its founding, Vienna and Meissen were the only European producers of hard-paste porcelain. The earliest wares, made before 1744, remain the most sought-after due to their rarity. The factory’s most celebrated period came between 1784 and 1805 under director Konrad von Sorgenthal. During this time, Vienna produced highly decorative Neoclassical pieces influenced by Sèvres. Wares were used as diplomatic gifts, including a 1735 service for Empress Anna of Russia with over 40 tureens. Exports to the Ottoman Empire reached 120,000 pieces annually by the late 18th century, often brightly coloured for Turkish coffee sets. Visitors to the manufactory find meticulously crafted wares with intricate painted borders and vivid colours. The process uses time-tested techniques, with hand-glazing and careful detailing of rims and handles. Some pieces feature openwork or animal-shaped handles, while others display formal plant motifs like Laub- und Bandelwerk. The surviving porcelain rooms, installed in the Museum of Applied Arts, show borders of plaques rather than full wall coverage.