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Finding the Right porcelain for You
Today you’re likely to bring out your antique and vintage porcelain in order to dress up your dining table for a special meal.
Porcelain, a durable and nonporous kind of pottery made from clay and stone, was first made in China and spread across the world owing to the trade routes to the Far East established by Dutch and Portuguese merchants. Given its origin, English speakers called porcelain “fine china,” an expression you still might hear today. "Fine" indeed — for over a thousand years, it has been a highly sought-after material.
Meissen Porcelain, one of the first factories to create real porcelain outside Asia, popularized figurine centerpieces during the 18th century in Germany, while works by Capodimonte, a porcelain factory in Italy, are synonymous with flowers and notoriously hard to come by. Modern porcelain houses such as Maison Fragile of Limoges, France — long a hub of private porcelain manufacturing — keep the city’s long tradition alive while collaborating with venturesome contemporary artists such as illustrator Jean-Michel Tixier.
Porcelain is not totally clumsy-guest-proof, but it is surprisingly durable and easy to clean. Its low permeability and hardness have rendered porcelain wares a staple in kitchens and dining rooms as well as a common material for bathroom sinks and dental veneers. While it is tempting to store your porcelain behind closed glass cabinet doors and reserve it only for display, your porcelain dinner plates and serving platters can safely weather the “dangers” of the dining room and be used during meals.
Add different textures and colors to your table with dinner plates and pitchers of ceramic and silver or a porcelain lidded tureen, a serving dish with side handles that is often used for soups. Although porcelain and ceramic are both made in a kiln, porcelain is made with more refined clay and is stronger than ceramic because it is denser.
On 1stDibs, browse an expansive collection of antique and vintage porcelain made in a variety of styles, including Regency, Scandinavian modern and other examples produced during the mid-century era, plus Rococo, which found its inspiration in nature and saw potters crafting animal figurines and integrating organic motifs such as floral patterns in their work.
- Is Limoges china bone china?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Limoges china is very similar to bone china, but it was not until the late 1700s that the ingredient kaolin, which is integral to bone china, was discovered near Limoges. Therefore, Limoges china made before this point is not truly bone china. Shop an array of authentic Limoges china on 1stDibs.
- Is Wedgwood bone china?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Wedgwood is bone china. According to its website, bone china is considered one of the most refined and luxurious materials for table use, no matter what the meal or occasion. Wedgwood has a long history of high-quality and luxurious bone china. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic bone china pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What does bone china mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The term bone china means porcelain dinnerware and serveware made of a mix of bone ash, kaolin clay and feldspathic material. It has a translucent look that works well with highly detailed painted finishes. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of bone china.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024Whether bone china is still made from bones varies from maker to maker. Many manufacturers continue to produce bone china out of the traditional blend of china stone, china clay and animal bone ash. However, others have switched to synthetic bone ash for producing all or some of their pieces. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of bone china.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024Whether bone china or porcelain is better is a matter of personal opinion. Fired at a higher temperature, porcelain tends to have a more durable finish, but bone china is less likely to chip and crack. Some people prefer the weighty feel of porcelain. Others find the lighter quality of bone china to be preferable. Both bone china and porcelain can stand the test of time when finely crafted and properly cared for. Shop a wide range of porcelain and bone china tableware on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024To identify your bone china mark, try snapping a photograph with your phone or tablet. You can then perform a reverse image search and look for a match. If this proves unsuccessful, type a description of the mark into a search engine and look for the mark in trusted online resources. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer assist you with identification. Explore a wide range of bone china on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Thomas Frye introduced bone china to England when he began producing pieces at his factory in Bow, East London in 1748. However, the pieces made by Josiah Spode in Stoke-on-Trent starting in 1789 more closely resemble the decorative china that England is best known for. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of bone china.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Most Spode is bone china. During its early decades, Spode was the first to develop a standard formula for the making of bone china, and most of its pieces made after this innovation are examples of bone china. However, particularly early on, Spode did make other types of pottery, such as earthenware. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Spode china.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Wedgwood is made with bone china, which is a type of porcelain. The fine bone china brand was founded in England in 1759, and is still considered one of the top porcelain makers of today. You can find antique and contemporary Wedgwood designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024Generally, bone china is more expensive than porcelain. This is largely due to the differences in materials and manufacturing techniques. Keep in mind that some porcelain ware may be pricier than the average bone china due to its rarity, age, maker or other factors. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of bone china and porcelain.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, bone china is still made in England. As of January 2022, many manufacturers still produced the china in the UK, including Royal Worcester, Spode and Wedgwood. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of English bone china from some of the world’s top makers and sellers.
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