ENA / ORIENT Porcelain Service Augarten Vienna

Details
Open Edition
Signed

Description
A rare 26-piece porcelain service comprising one teapot, one coffee pot, and two lidded sugar or sweets bowls in remarkable condition. Designed in 1930 by Ena Rottenberg, the ENA service is an iconic example of Viennese modern design and the refined artistry of the Wiener Porzellanmanufaktur Augarten.
Produced in Vienna using traditional handcraft techniques and still in production today, the ENA service reflects Augarten’s exceptional continuity, craftsmanship, and cultural legacy.

The ORIENT version (Form No. 20) is distinguished by sculptural lid finials in the form of so-called “exotic heads.” These finely modelled figures—appearing on coffee and tea vessels such as the coffee pot, teapot, terrine, sugar bowl, saucière, and covered dishes—were intended to symbolically reference regions historically associated with the origins of coffee and tea. Contemporary descriptions identify the figures as representing India, Southeast Asia, China, and Africa.

From today’s perspective, these motifs must be understood within the cultural and historical framework of early 20th-century Europe. The figures reflect the period’s fascination with exoticism and global trade, shaped by colonial worldviews and stereotypical imagery that are now recognised as problematic. While such representations are part of the design’s historical narrative, they also invite critical reflection on how objects of everyday use can embody broader power structures and cultural assumptions of their time.

Materials
Porcelain