Page 24 - guide-to-brimfield-revised

22 JULY 2023 GUIDE TO BRIMFIELD

What is China?

eramics, in its broadest term, defines the art “china” comes
of making any object from clay by baking it. from its coun-
CJust as the term “vehicle” can mean car, try of origin,
airplane, or spaceship, the term “ceramics” includes a and the word
like number of variations, either in design or materials. “porcelain” comes
from the Latin
WHAT IS CHINA? Hand-painted tea cup and
Basically, the chemical composition of china is word “porcella,” saucer selling for $187 online
photo: truevintageantiques.com
a combination of clay, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz. meaning seashell. It
Other materials may be added, depending on the implies a product which is smooth, white, and
relative quality of the raw materials available and lustrous. The term “porcelain” is preferred in
the results the manufacturer wishes to achieve. Europe while “china” is favored in the United
After the purest of raw materials are mixed and States. China is “at the top of the list” of ceramic
prepared, the product is shaped and molded into products because of its delicate beauty, and the
the desired forms and placed through a series of extreme care and skill taken to produce it. China is
firings at extremely high temperatures and for long very delicate in appearance only, as it is known for
periods of time. The number of firings is often its great strength and resistance to chipping, which
determined by the nature of the design sought. As results from a high firing temperature.
with stoneware, the body becomes vitrified; which BONE CHINA
means the body fuses, becomes In making bone china, calcified bone is used as
nonabsorbent, and very strong. a refractory material and the firing temperature is
Unlike stoneware, china lower. Bone china is usually thinner and the glaze
becomes very white and is smoother than porcelain china. The glaze,
translucent. however, is not as durable as porcelain china since
it is softer. “Bone china” starts the same way as
CHINA VS
PORCELAIN porcelain china but includes an extra ingredient:
Many people are con- bone ash. This is a white powdery substance and
fused as to the difference the by-product of incinerated animal bone. Bone
between “china” and ash gives the body of the plate a unique milky
“porcelain.” Actually, the white color. Bone ash adds translucency to the
two terms describe the body of the dinnerware, and makes the dish
same product. The term stronger by making it softer. It’s true! By making
the dinnerware less brittle, the bone ash makes it
$41.6 million revolving more resilient and less likely to break.
Chinese vase, photo: luxurylaunches
GLOSSARY

Bone China: Contains up to 50% animal ash, which Firing: Baking process to harden, strengthen, or fuse.
is burned and ground to a fine powder.
Gilding: Using gold or platinum to decorate.
Ceramics: Generic term referring to all ware made of Glaze: Glossy transparent or colored coating baked
earth materials and processed by firing or baking.
onto clayware to make it nonabsorbent.
China: Another generic term, usually referring to Luster: Ceramic glaze coating, metallic in nature,
fine porcelain. Called “china” because it is the which gives the finished piece an iridescent effect.
country credited with creating dinnerware.
Matte Finish: Flat glaze finish without gloss.
Clay: Raw material formed when rock breaks down
either due to the weather or chemical processes. Porcelain: Hard, translucent clayware unusually
consisting of 50% kaolin, 25% quartz, and 25%
Crackledware: Clayware surface marked by tiny feldspar fired at high temperatures.
cracks deliberately induced by sudden cooling.
Stoneware: Dense clay fired at 2400 degrees. Glazes
Decal: A design-bearing sheet applied to ware, in subdued earthy tones, giving a hand-crafted look.
resulting in transfer decoration (transferware).
Porous and chip-resistant.