The factory was originally established by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in 1744, predating the porcelain factories of Berlin and Sèvres.
Dmitry Vinogradov, the inventor of Russian hard-paste porcelain, worked here and developed the unique chemical recipe for the factory's signature material.
The collection includes a service set produced for Empress Catherine the Great, showcasing the high level of detail possible with 18th-century glazing techniques.
During the Soviet period, the factory produced 'Agit-porcelain,' featuring revolutionary slogans and themes designed to serve as propaganda tools.
The museum holds rare trial pieces that document the failed attempts to replicate imported Chinese porcelain techniques in the 1700s.
The Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory is a dedicated branch of the State Hermitage Museum located directly on the grounds of the historic Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg. The collection spans the entire history of the factory, from its founding in 1744 as the first porcelain manufacture in Russia to its modern output. It features over 30,000 items, including unique Russian porcelain, faience, and glass pieces. The exhibits showcase the stylistic evolution of the factory’s production through various imperial reigns and the Soviet era. Visitors can observe the transition from baroque and rococo designs to the avant-garde and socialist realism styles of the 20th century. The museum is housed in a purpose-built facility that preserves the technical and artistic legacy of Russia's oldest ceramic enterprise. It serves as both a repository of state history and a center for ongoing ceramic research.
The main exhibition hall, which displays large decorative vases against the backdrop of the factory’s historic glass architecture.
Combine your visit with a walking tour of the surrounding factory grounds to see the industrial architecture.
Check the museum's official page before visiting to see if any temporary ceramic art exhibitions from contemporary artists are being hosted.
Take advantage of the museum shop, which sells high-quality authentic items produced at the factory.
Do not confuse this location with the main Hermitage Museum complex in the Winter Palace; this is a specialized satellite branch located outside the city center.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Maintain a respectful distance from display cases and avoid using flash photography to protect sensitive pigments on porcelain items.
