Vienna Press Info – September 2026 The Art of Dining

September 1, 2026 – Vienna’s culture of good living encompasses not only cuisine but also exquisite tableware, much of which is crafted by traditional Viennese artisan workshops and complemented by contemporary design. All of them craft glassware, porcelain, ceramics, and silver by hand.

J. & L. Lobmeyr

The glassware specialist J. & L. Lobmeyr crafts the finest drinking glasses in countless designs, ranging from historical to modern. Lobmeyr has been shaping Viennese table culture since 1823 with its glass designs, which can be found in museum collections around the world. This exquisitely delicate drinking glass is hand-blown and hand-cut. Many orders came from the Austrian imperial family. Lobmeyr, the official glassware supplier to the imperial court, delivered the first set of tableware for official receptions in 1835: the Hofburg Service could serve up to 400 guests and continued to be used for state receptions of the Republic of Austria for many years. Lobmeyr, a sixth-generation family business, has always embraced collaboration with contemporary artists, from Theophil Hansen, Adolf Loos, and Josef Hoffmann to current designers such as Stefan Sagmeister and Polka. One of Lobmeyr’s oldest series is Service No. 4 from 1856. It was displayed at the Vienna World’s Fair 1873 and has been a bestseller ever since. The service impressed then as it does now with its simplicity and modernity.

J. & L. Lobmeyr
Kärntner Straße 26
1010 Vienna

www.lobmeyr.at

Augarten Porcelain Manufactory

The Augarten Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna has operatedexisted, with interruptions, since 1718, making it Europe’s second-oldest porcelain manufactory. Augarten Porcelain, too, supplied the imperial court and became a Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court. Designers from the Baroqueevery to the contemporary era have created pieces for Augarten Porcelain.; the range extends from Baroque to contemporary. The “Viennese Rose,” a well-known Biedermeier pattern, and Josef Hoffmann’s world-famous Melon service from 1929 are still bestsellers to this day. Porcelain has always been handcrafted and hand-painted at the manufactory in the Augarten. Anyone who would like to look over the porcelain artists’ shoulders and get an insight into production can join a guided tour of the manufactory. The Augarten Porcelain Museum located there is also well worth a visit. In addition to the permanent exhibition, special exhibitions are presented here on a regular basis. The exhibition “Simply Modern. Porcelain around 1800” can still be seen through February 27, 2027. The colorful, ornament-rich designs from that time still look surprisingly modern today. .

Augarten Vienna
Obere Augartenstraße 1
1020 Vienna

www.augarten.com

Augarten flagship store
Spiegelgasse 3
1010 Vienna

Silversmith Jarosinski & Vaugoin

Tableware and cutlery from this silversmith’s workshop, founded in 1847, were being used to set the tables in the homes of the Viennese nobility and the upper middle class back during the imperial era. This family business is one of the world’s oldest silversmiths that is still in operation, producing hand-hammered silverware. The extensive selection of silver cutlery includes 200 different models. Today, Jean-Paul Vaugoin is part of the sixth generation of the same family to run the company and even supplies the royals at London’s Kensington Palace, as well as royal households as far away as Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Production today is carried out, as it always has beenwas then, in a historic workshop in the 7th district. These include not only historical pieces, but also modern designs by designers such as Thomas Feichtner and Sebastian Menschhorn.

Jarosinski & Vaugoin
Zieglergasse 24
1070 Vienna

www.vaugoin.com

Onka Allmayer-Beck

The artist Onka Allmayer-Beck creates sculptural ceramic works in a contemporary style. The ceramic artist bridges the gap between contemporary design, arts and crafts, and sculpture. Her creations are not purely decorative. Instead, ; rather, she seeks to combine craftsmanship with creativity and to bring a sense of playfulness and vitality back into the mainstream. Onka Allmayer-Beck is viewed as a refreshingly original designer who brings new impetus through color, form, and the idea of function. She creates petit four towers for confections, table decorations that can be adorned with candles or flowers as desired, pink champagne bowls, and single-scoop ice cream cups.

www.onkaallmayerbeck.com

Products from the aforementioned artisanal workshops are featured in photo shoots by star photographer Thomas Albdorf. The Vienna-based photographer specializes in still lifes and has built an international reputation with them. Fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Givenchy are also among his clients.

studio.albdorf.com