Collection of Equestrians crafted by the Augarten porcelain factory in Austria, made of 70 individual porcelain pieces.Material: Porcelain, polychrome painting, gilded and coloredA commemorative plaque of the Spanish Riding School and a label indicating the type of horse movement are attached on the base of each figurine.Location: Niavaran Royal Palace Museum
These figurines are displayed in a section of the informal office of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi within the Royal Palace. Unfortunately, the exact manner of their arrival at the royal residence is not documented; like many similar works, they may have been gifts or purchases.The Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule)Located in Vienna, Austria, and part of the historic Hofburg Palace complex, the Spanish Riding School is one of the oldest equestrian academies in the world. The Hofburg Palace served as a center of power for 600 years. In 1572, a section of it was officially dedicated to training riders.The school’s main building is an architectural masterpiece in the Baroque style, designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. One of its most renowned features is the Winter Riding Hall, where classical riding performances are held for the public.The school is globally celebrated for preserving classical equestrian traditions and for its performances featuring Lipizzaner stallions. Throughout its history, it has stood as a cultural and historical symbol of Austria, continuously training professional riders in the art of classical dressage.Spanish horses, known for their beauty, strength, and exceptional balance, are especially suited for the intricate movements required in classical riding. The Lipizzaner breed, developed through the crossbreeding of Spanish, Baroque, and other European horse breeds, was traditionally used in European royal courts. These horses were chosen for their ability to perform complex movements known as "airs above the ground," such as the levade, courbette, and ballotade, with precision and grace, which require years of training and harmony between horse and rider.Albin DöbrichAlbin Döbrich, a modernist artist of German origin, served as the head of an industrial school in his hometown of Sonneberg during World War I. Between 1924 and 1934, he worked for the Austrian porcelain factory Augarten. Among his works from this period is the design of six figurines inspired by the Spanish Riding School. These figures, produced around 1925, stand between 22.5 and 28 cm tall and weigh approximately one kilogram each.Döbrich had a deep interest in Lipizzaner horses. He studied both the horses and their riders extensively and created highly refined and masterful figurine compositions. He also collaborated with other porcelain manufacturers such as German Factory Rosenthal. Later, a selection of his work was exhibited in the sculpture event of the art competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He eventually became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, and his works are held in the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna.
History of Augarten Porcelain FactoryFounded in 1718, the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory is the second-oldest porcelain factory in Europe still in operation. Parts of its building have since been converted into a porcelain museum.In keeping with Augarten’s 300-year tradition, every porcelain piece is handcrafted and hand-painted, an approach that ensures each item is unique. From its inception, Augarten has collaborated with distinguished artists and produced thousands of masterpieces, ranging from Baroque to modern styles.Augarten’s golden era began in 1784 under the enlightened leadership of Baron Conrad Sörgel von Sorgenthal, a court advisor. He successfully merged classical artistic standards with economic management and directed the factory toward academic artistic practices. He hired master painters and sculptors for in-house schools and organized competitions to foster innovation in techniques and porcelain

decoration—an era now regarded as one of the finest periods in the history of Viennese porcelain.In 1864, under pressure from large industries, the original Vienna factory was closed, and its entire collection was transferred to the Museum of Art and Industry (today known as MAK). Sixty years later, in 1924, the Vienna porcelain manufactory was reopened under the new name Augarten at a new location in the Augarten Palace.This new beginning brought together renowned sculptors and visual artists such as Albin Döbrich, Robert Ullmann, and Viktor Sakellarios and Karin Jarl-Sakellarios, who created iconic and contemporary works, including figurines of the Spanish Riding School and horse tamers. The elegant and playful movements of the horses served as a continuous source of inspiration for Augarten’s porcelain artists, making horses a central and captivating theme in their creations.Video produced at the Documentation Unit by Karim SabbaghiResearch: Fariborz NiksereshtSpecial thanks to: Neda Shanaqi (Head), Azin Sobati (Curator), Niavaran Royal Palace Museum