- Address: Kalēju iela 9/11, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia;
- Working hours: every day from 11:00 to 18:00;
- Phone: +371 29 117 405;
- Date of foundation: 2001.
In the Old Town of Riga there are many museums, and one of them is dedicated to the great porcelain of Riga. Here you can see the products of this beautiful and elegant material of three centuries. There are rare exhibits created under the auspices of the famous manufactories of Kuznetsov and Essen, a large collection of porcelain "born" in the Soviet era, as well as the work of modern masters.
History of the museum
After JSC "Riga Porcelain" was liquidated, the question arose about the fate of his museum collection. In 2000, all the preserved porcelain products were transferred to the bodies of Riga Municipality, and a year later a decision was made to open a full-fledged museum.
The foundation of the new museum was the entire legacy of the Riga Porcelain Factory. Given the fact that at one time it united two of the most famous Latvian manufactories (Essen and Kuznetsova), the collection was not only items made from porcelain and faience produced during the Soviet era, but also valuable products of the XIX century.
Today, a modern collection is gradually being formed, but the replenishment of the Kuznetsovskaya and Essenov exposition is a priority direction of the museum's development.
What to see?
The porcelain museum in Riga is a small room with several rooms. The total collection has about 8 thousand items. There are permanent exhibitions where porcelain of different eras is represented. The largest exposition is devoted to the period of 50-90 years of the last century.
The special attention of visitors is attracted by the "Red Corner", where porcelain items with Soviet communist symbols are presented. It houses the famous vase of Stalin, which was made by the masters of the Riga factory as a gift to the great leader. However, on the eve of the presentation of the presentation, there was an incident. As a true friend and companion, near the very Joseph Vissarionovich artists depicted Laurent Beria. Suddenly, the People's Commissar is declared an "enemy of the people" and a foreign spy. The vase was corrected in a hurry, removing the portrait of a dubious companion. But while the masters did this, Stalin died suddenly. The gift remained in Latvia.
The museum also hosts author's exhibitions of contemporary artists (Peter Martinsons, Inessa Marguveichi, Zina Ulte).
All visitors to the museum are shown an interesting cartoon dedicated to the history and development of porcelain craft. Titles in 5 languages (Latvian, Russian, German, English and Swedish).
Things to do?
If you come to Riga not for a couple of days, but at least for a week, you can take the opportunity to create an unusual souvenir to remember with your own hands.
At the porcelain museum, a creative workshop is open in Riga. Participants of the master class are offered two classes to choose from:
- hand painting of finished products;
- The molding from porcelain mass and the subsequent decoration of the created objects.
Pick up your work can be a few days after baking.
Information for tourists
- The museum operates: every day, except Monday, from 11:00 to 18:00;
- Admission: adult € 2.5, child / student / pension € 1;
- guide services: excursion in Latvian - € 6.4, in Russian / English - € 9.4;
- for a visit to a creative workshop, an advance recording is required for groups of 5;
- cost of the master class: from € 4,6 to € 10,5;
- in the museum you can buy souvenirs from porcelain / faience, cards with pictures of exhibits, as well as a catalog of the Riga Porcelain Factory;
- professional photo and video in the museum for a fee of € 30.
How to get there?
The porcelain museum in Riga is located near the embankment of the Western Dvina , on Kalyeju street 9/11, not far from St. Peter's Church.
The whole territory of the Old Town is a pedestrian zone, so you will not get to the museum by transport. From the western part, take tram no. 2, 4, 5 or 10 to the Grēcinieku stop, then walk to Audēju Street, which crosses Kalėju Street.
You can also get from the eastern part of the city - by tram number 3, get to the boulevard Aspazijas, which also intersects with Audēju street, from where you will go to Kalyeju, where the museum is located.
In any case, you will be guided by the spire of the highest church in Riga - St. Peter's Cathedral. Hold on to it, and definitely do not get lost!