e-Powersellers Porcelain &
Pottery
Porcelain & Pottery
Porcelain & Pottery Terms
The terms and definitions below are strictly the opinions of e-Powersellers and should not be relied on as for insurance or appraisal. These guides are only to offer assistance in understanding basic terms and conditions. We realize that different people have different ways of grading or determining value. If there are any obvious omissions or errors and you are a qualified expert in your field, please contact us at info@e-Powersellers.com so we can adjust the guides accordingly
Bone china is made from a combination
of 25% china stone, 25% china clay and 50%
calcined cattle bones. Bone china has been
produced in since the early 19th century.
Bone ash content must be at least 25% by US
guidelines. Fired at 1800 degrees. The
translucent material is finished with a
glaze or underglaze (matte). Lighter,
stronger, more expensive than porcelain.
Burnishing is a process that by
rubbing a smooth stone over the surface
results in a shiny surface. The process is
done after the application of clay slip
China it wasn't made in Europe until
the 18th century, china was developed over
100 years ago in, not surprisingly, China.
Once synonymous with porcelain, China is
made when kaolin is mixed with petuntse, two
forms of decomposed granite which fuse
together in a very hot kiln to produce
translucent clayware. If the item is opaque
it is known as pottery.
Coiling is a process of adding ropes
of clay in order to build up the walls of
the pot. Tools are then used to thin and
smooth the pot. Very common with Pueblo
potters
Firing is the process of baking and
hardening pottery. Most common pottery is
fired in a kiln. Primitive pottery was fired
outdoors
Matte finish is a dull, flat finish
Porcelain is a clay body which, when
fired, becomes very mature and usually
translucent. Porcelain is normally quite
white and fires to a very smooth pleasant
surface. Porcelain clays lack iron
impurities and are ground to very fine
particle sizes. Plastic porcelain clays tend
to be shorter than their stoneware or
earthenware counterparts. Porcelain casting
slips achieve the whitest and most
translucent results.
Stoneware is a hard material, fired
in high temperature, kilns generally around
1,200° - 1,400°C. At this temperature,
stoneware vitrifies (becomes glasslike). The
resulting product is less than 2% porous,
therefore, glaze is not mandatory for a
stoneware stein. When glaze is used, it must
be of special quality to withstand the high
kiln temperature.
More to come