Porcelain

Porcelain Latest News

In the waters off Singapore, a recently uncovered shipwreck with a huge cargo of blue-and-white porcelain is shedding light on the storied Chinese craft produced during the turbulent era of the Mongol Empire.

About Porcelain

• It is a type of ceramic material that is highly durable and has high-performance characteristics due to its production process.
• It is made from a combination of natural materials including kaolin (china clay), feldspar, and quartz.
• Porcelain was first made in China—in a primitive form during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) and in the form best known in the West during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368 CE). 
• The word porcelain is derived from porcellana, used by Marco Polo to describe the pottery he saw in China.
• It is often called “china.”
• There are three major types of porcelain historically used in dinnerware and decorative pieces: hard paste, soft paste, and bone china. 
  • Hard-paste porcelain dates back to antiquity in China and gets its durability from firing at a very high temperature. 
  • The exact composition of porcelain varies depending on its use and the manufacturer, though one common ingredient is kaolin, a soft white clay that is combined with other ingredients like mica, quartz, and feldspar.
  • Soft-paste porcelain was made by Europeans attempting to achieve the durability and translucence of Chinese porcelain.
    • It often incorporated materials like ground glass or soapstone and was fired at a lower temperature.
  • Finally, bone china incorporates up to 50% bone ash in its recipe and was developed during the mid-18th century in England. 
• Properties of Porcelain:
  • High material density.
  • Smooth, glossy surface, which is particularly translucent and gives porcelain products a refined, elegant character.
  • High resistance to scratches and breakage, making it ideal for everyday use as well as special occasions.

Source: CNN

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