Sunday 13 April 2014

Old Viennese Rose




Call me old-fashioned, but I really love this simple and beautiful “Old Viennese Rose” from the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten. Even though I am not the type of person to have complete Meissen porcelain dinnerware in a glass cabinet in my dining room (like our grandmothers did), this is probably the only flower-patterned dinnerware I would really like to have.

Last time I stayed in Vienna, I went on a guided tour through the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory Augarten. During the tour, we visited the artists who paint all the porcelain by hand. There was one lady who patiently worked on the “Purple Rose” pattern. In the manufactory’s shop and museum I saw the “Old Viennese Rose” porcelain again. A few days later I visited some good friends, and I spotted it again, the good old Viennese Rose.  When I came back home to Switzerland, a very, very dear friend and a former working colleague posted the same “Viennese Rose” post stamp on my Facebook wall.

This “Rose” seems to follow me. Even though the “Viennese Purple Rose” was created in the era of Biedermeier, it didn’t lose any of its popularity.

A few weeks ago, I checked the Austrian online selling platform for the vintage articles and I was surprised that there are so many of the old complete Augarten’s “Old Viennese Rose” sets that are still offered for sale. Many times it was noted that the porcelain dinnerware is old, but never used. It had been locked up in some grandma’s glass cabinet.

For many people, this dinnerware was obviously too precious for a daily use. Also, I can imagine that it was purchased as dowry for the wedding. Maybe it was just a matter of prestige to own this particular porcelain dinnerware.

One thing is sure: if I had the "Old Viennese Rose" porcelain cup, I would enjoy drinking my tea out of it.