The most complex Augarten Wien figurines—like the Spanish Riding School's Courbette—comprise 68 individually hand-moulded porcelain pieces, fired at 1,380°C, then hand-painted by artisans who specialise in a single discipline: faces, flowers, or gilding. This is the level of craftsmanship behind every Augarten Wien figurine, and it's precisely why collectors continue to seek them out nearly a century after the manufactory's revival.
In this blog, we explore the rich history behind Augarten Wien figurines, how to identify and authenticate them through their distinctive porcelain marks, what drives their collectible value, and how to care for these exquisite pieces of Viennese heritage.
The Augarten Wien History
Augarten Wien figurines trace their heritage to 1718, when Claudius Innocentius du Paquier established Vienna's first porcelain manufactory. This made Vienna home to Europe's second-oldest porcelain production, following only Meissen in Germany. Du Paquier used bribery and diplomacy to lure key employees—including kiln master Samuel Stölzel—away from Meissen, taking the manufactory's closely guarded secrets with them. His gamble created a porcelain dynasty.
The original Vienna manufactory operated under Imperial patronage from 1744 until Emperor Franz Joseph closed it in 1864 due to mounting competition. Porcelain marked from this era—known as "Alt Wien" or Old Vienna—commands premium prices among collectors who focus on specific periods like Baroque, Rococo, or the elegant Biedermeier era.
The modern Augarten story began in 1923 when the Wiener Porzellanmanufaktur Augarten reopened in the former Imperial palace in Augarten Park. Rather than simply reproducing historical designs, the new manufactory collaborated with progressive artists from the Wiener Werkstätte movement, including Josef Hoffmann, Michael Powolny, and Franz von Zülow. This fusion of tradition and innovation defines Augarten Wien porcelain to this day.
Most Iconic Augarten Wien Figurines
Spanish Riding School Figurines
Augarten Wien figurines celebrating Vienna's legendary Spanish Riding School represent the manufactory's most recognizable and collectible series. Created initially in 1925, these Art Deco masterpieces capture Lipizzaner stallions performing classical dressage movements with remarkable anatomical precision.
The collection depicts eight classical dressage movements, including some of the most technically demanding "airs above the ground"—movements where the horse leaves the ground entirely:
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Levade: The horse balances on its hind legs at approximately 30–35 degrees from the ground, forelegs tucked neatly beneath. This controlled pose demonstrates both the horse's strength and the rider's mastery.
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Courbette: One of the most dynamic pieces, showing the horse hopping forward on its hind legs while keeping the forelegs tucked. The Courbette figurine consists of 68 separate porcelain pieces, making it technically challenging to produce.
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Capriole: The horse leaps straight upward with forelegs tucked, then kicks out powerfully with both hind legs before landing on all four. This explosive movement is the most spectacular of the aerial movements.
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Pirouette: The horse turns 360 degrees, pivoting on its haunches while remaining on all four legs—a ground movement that demands exceptional balance and collection rather than an air above the ground.
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Piaffe: Captures the horse performing an elevated trot in place, demonstrating collection and suspension.
Collectors prize these Augarten Wien porcelain pieces for their Art Deco styling—geometric forms combined into dynamic compositions that balance realism with stylized elegance. The attention to detail extends from individual hairs on the horses' fetlocks to the intricate stitching on saddles and the veining visible in porcelain "skin."
Animal Figurines and Whimsical Characters
Beyond the famous horses, Augarten Wien figurines encompass a delightful menagerie of animals and decorative subjects that showcase the manufactory's versatility and artistic range.
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Porcelain Mice and Woodland Creatures: Dating from the 1930s, these small animal figurines exemplify the manufactory's ability to capture personality in miniature form. Mice, rabbits, and other creatures demonstrate both naturalistic detail and charming stylization.
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Bird Figurines: Cockatoos, parrots, and decorative birds feature vibrant hand-painted colours and naturalistic poses. These Augarten Wien porcelain pieces often served as table decorations or cabinet displays, combining ornamental beauty with the technical challenge of rendering feathers in porcelain.
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Dogs and Cats: Domestic animal figurines range from realistic breed studies to more whimsical interpretations. Pekinese dogs, cats in various poses, and playful puppies all received the Augarten treatment, with careful attention to fur texture and expressive faces.
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Exotic Animals: The collection includes more unusual subjects like monkeys perched in trees, rabbits grooming themselves, and even porcelain representations of Austrian wildlife.
Many animal figurines come in blanc de chine—glazed white porcelain that emphasizes form and texture without colour distraction. This minimalist approach, borrowed from Chinese porcelain traditions, allows collectors to appreciate the sculptural quality and translucency of Augarten's high-quality hard-paste porcelain.
Authenticating Augarten Wien Porcelain Marks
Augarten Wien figurines carry distinctive marks that authenticate their origin and help collectors avoid reproductions.
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The Bindenschild: The most important mark is the blue underglaze shield, drawn from the coat of arms of the Dukes of Austria. Often called the "beehive mark," it is properly a Bindenschild — a heraldic shield, not a beehive. Introduced in 1744 during Empress Maria Theresia's reign, it continues on Augarten pieces today. The shield should be properly oriented as a shield, rendered in cobalt blue beneath the glaze. A common forgery trick is orienting it upside down so it reads as a beehive — if it looks more like a beehive than a shield, treat it with caution.
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The Crown: Augarten's shield mark typically includes a crown above it, an Imperial reference carried forward from the original manufactory. Together, the crowned shield is the single most reliable indicator of authenticity.
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Text Marks: Pieces produced from 1923 onward often include "AUGARTEN WIEN AUSTRIA" in red painted overglaze, alongside or near the blue shield. "MADE IN AUSTRIA" appears impressed into the base on many pieces. These text marks, combined with the crowned Bindenschild, confirm Augarten manufacture.
When evaluating any piece, examine the cobalt blue shield with good lighting and a magnifying glass. On genuine pieces it should appear crisp and consistent, fired beneath a clear glaze, with the slight irregularities you'd expect from hand application — not the uniform precision of a printed reproduction.
What Makes Augarten Wien Figurines Valuable
Several factors determine the market value of Augarten Wien figurines, including condition, rarity, provenance, and designer attribution.
Rarity and Production Era: Early Art Deco pieces from the 1920s-1930s, particularly those by named designers like Albin Döbrich or Michael Powolny, command premium prices. Complete Spanish Riding School sets or rare movements like the Capriole achieve higher values than common individual pieces.
Condition: Pristine condition dramatically affects value. Look for:
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No chips, cracks, or repairs
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Original gilding intact (gold and platinum details)
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Clean, unfaded hand-painted colours
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Original gloss and finish
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Complete—all parts present, especially on complex figurines
Even minor damage can reduce value by 50% or more on collectible figurines. Professional restoration may be invisible to casual inspection but should be disclosed when selling.
Size and Complexity: Larger figurines with intricate details and multiple components typically sell for more than smaller, simpler pieces. The Spanish Riding School horses, ranging from 9 to 12 inches in height and consisting of dozens of individual pieces, represent substantial investments in materials and artisan time.
Designer Attribution: Pieces definitively attributed to celebrated designers command premiums. Documentation linking a figurine to Josef Hoffmann, for example, substantially increases collector interest and market value.
Subject Matter: Vienna-specific subjects like the Spanish Riding School horses or cultural figures (Mozart, Beethoven) appeal to Austrian heritage collectors and cultural institutions. These themes often outperform generic animal figurines in auction settings.
The Enduring Appeal of Augarten Wien Porcelain
Augarten Wien figurines represent more than decorative objects. They carry 300 years of European craftsmanship, Imperial patronage, and artistic evolution — from the Baroque elegance of Alt Wien through the revolutionary designs of the Wiener Werkstätte to today's contemporary collaborations. Each piece is a tangible piece of Vienna's cultural heritage.
For serious collectors of fine European porcelain, the appeal is clear: meticulous hand-crafting, deep historical significance, and a direct connection to Vienna's Imperial past and artistic golden age. The Spanish Riding School horses bring dynamic energy to a collection. The porcelain animals offer whimsical charm. The blanc de chine pieces deliver a quiet, striking beauty. Together, they make Augarten one of the most rewarding porcelain collections to build.
Porcelain Figurines at Around the Block
Around the Block carries all the top porcelain figurine brands, including Meissen, Herend, Royal Doulton, Lladró, Goebel, and more, making us Toronto's premier destination for fine collectible figurines. For more information about consigning or purchasing Augarten Wien figurines, visit our website or contact us directly.
