Vienna Manufactory

The second hard-paste porcelain factory was opened in Vienna in 1718 by Claudius Innocentius du Paquier, who had obtained a licence from Emperor Charles VI. The style of porcelain from this era was late baroque like that of Meissen. In 1744, when the privilege expired, du Paquier’s manufactory was taken over by the state and from that date the style was inspired by French rococo. In 1784 Conrad von Sorgenthal became director and revolutionised the style of the manufactory with gold backgrounds on which accurate miniatures stood out. From 1820, a slow and continuous decline began, which ended in 1864 with the closure decreed by the government.