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Dinnerware Material
What exactly is china?
Porcelain dinnerware created partly or completely from china clay, technically known as kaolinite, is typically referred to as china. Originally created in China, porcelain was eventually exported to Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and coveted by the aristocratic class for its elegance and resistance to chipping. In English, as these wares began to be referred to as china, used as a synonym for the French-Italian word porcelain. In the early 18th century, Europeans began creating a similar form of china, or porcelain, by combining similar minerals to achieve a translucent white material with the same hardness and density. Kaolinite, or china clay, was eventually discovered in Cornwall, England around 1768. Today, kaolinite is a common mineral found in United States, Australia and many countries throughout Asia, Europe and South America. Today, porcelain dinnerware, bone china and earthenware can all be referred to as china because china clay is used to make all of them.
Does bone china actually contain bone?
Bone china is a popular choice in both casual and fine dinnerware. Also referred to as bone porcelain, bone china differs from regular china because of its brighter hue, greater translucency and increased strength. Originally developed in England by Josiah Spode as an attempt to further duplicate the characteristics of imported porcelain, the ash of calicined ox bones was mixed with kaolin and china stone (kaolinite), becoming 25–50% of the soft-paste porcelain. The finished product became quite popular because of his unique combination of delicate elegance and chip-resistant durability. Fine English bone china is still coveted by many antique collectors and dinnerware aficionados. Today, bone china is made around the world but in most countries, feldspars are added to the china clay to achieve a similar strength and whiteness as bone china made with calcined animal bone ash. Spode, and other porcelain manufacturers in Great Britain, continue to produce authentic fine bone china at its UK factory while Lenox is the only fine bone china manufacturer in the United States.
What is earthenware?
Today, many people have fine bone china sets for formal dining and opt for a durable earthenware dinnerware set for casual everyday dining. Earthenware is also considered ceramic porcelain, as it contains china clay. It is considerably heavier than typical porcelain. The kaolin is typically mixed with bell clay, feldspars and quartz and bisque fired. Most people are familiar with earthenware made from red clay, which has been a familiar site throughout history since the dawn of ancient civilizations. Earthenware is more porous than stoneware or porcelain, giving it the ability to take vibrant colors and patterns and making it a favorite for casual dining sets. Earthenware products are always finished with a glaze to ensure the item is watertight. One of the most common types of finishes is a tin glaze. Tin-glazed pottery covered in an opaque white glaze with a high sheen. Some common types of earthenware and other popular styles of tin-glazed pottery are creamware, blue & white Delftware from the Netherlands, tin-glazed faience, the colorful Victorian majolica featuring raised & molded designs, Japanese raku, and timeless terra cotta.
Is earthenware the same thing as stoneware?
Stoneware, a casual dining favorite, is created by fortifying clay with ground stone. It is fired at a high temperature, making it less porous and more resistant to water and chipping. Most all stoneware is oven and dishwasher safe, which makes it ideal for everyday use. Because it is less porous, stoneware does not take vivid color as readily as earthenware and stoneware patterns are a bit more subdued and less vibrant than many you would find in earthenware china sets. While stoneware does not necessarily require a glaze finish, salt-fired stoneware, or salt-glazed stoneware, has an enduring place in European and American history. Salt-glazed pottery was the choice dinnerware of American families during the 18th and 19th centuries, with stoneware manufacturers contributing to the industrial growth in the Northeast and along the Southern Atlantic Seaboard states, particularly the Carolinas. Today the salt-firing method is taught at most colleges and universities. In addition to dinnerware and cookware, salt glazing remains an integral part of modern art and pottery throughout the world. |
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