FROM THE PASTE TO UNIQUE PORCELAIN OBJECTS Porcelain Production
Now the time has come to give the raw piece
A material so delicate and yet so tough: the
of porcelain its “identity�: after it has been in-
secret of porcelain production had preoccu-
spected and cleaned, the cobalt blue “beehive�
pied the Western world ever since Marco Polo
or banded shield stamp is applied before the
brought porcelain from Asia to Europe more
object is glazed. It is the Babenberger dynasty’s
than 600 years ago. But merely four ingre-
coat of arms, which has been used as the
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Vienna porcelain factory’s mark since 1744.
feldspar, quartz, kaolin, and water. The exact
After the piece has been glazed by hand, the se-
mixing ratio is the well-kept secret of each
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factory.
out at 1380° Celsius, which lends the material
Once the paste is prepared, it can immediately
the same resistance as steel. Now the smoothly
be cast into moulds for the creation of most ele-
glazed surface is ready to be elaborately deco-
gant forms. If one prefers to bring the paste to
rated with the quill pen or brush. Depending
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has to be allowed to mature until it reaches its
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ideal consistency. Such open circular forms as
the colours will fuse with the glaze on the one
beakers or plates are thrown (or turned), dried,
hand and the artwork will be conserved as a
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whole on the other. The 24-carat gold referred
and oval forms, as well as handles and parts of
to as “polished gold� – the icing on the cake in
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many of Augarten’s unique items – only re-
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ceives its unmistakable shine when polished
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with sea or agate sand. Every single Augarten
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item is thus made with a lot of patience and
out at 930° Celsius. It causes the material to
passion, summoned up by those excellent
harden, while the surface still remains porous.
craftspeople working for us.