Porcelains

Porcelains are a category of ceramic wares known for their vitrified, white body and often translucent quality. The traditional hard-paste porcelain relies on kaolin (china clay), feldspar, and quartz and is fired at high temperatures to form a dense, water-impervious material. Soft-paste porcelain uses alternative clays and fluxes and is typically fired at lower temperatures, producing a slightly creamier body. Bone china, developed in Britain in the 18th century, is a widely used porcelain variant that incorporates bone ash to enhance whiteness and translucency.

Most porcelains are formed by wheel throwing, molding, or pressing into a mold, then dried and glazed before a final firing. The glaze provides a glossy, often translucent surface and chemically bonds to the body in the kiln. Firing involves two or more stages: a bisque firing to harden the unfired ware and a glaze firing to fuse the glaze.

Porcelain originated in China, with hard-paste varieties produced and refined at large workshops such as Jingdezhen during the medieval period. The technology spread to Europe through trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, with Meissen in Germany achieving the first European hard-paste porcelain, followed by French Sèvres and English producers in Stoke-on-Trent. Bone china arose in Britain in the 18th century as a lighter, more translucent alternative that remained strong when fired at high temperatures.

Today porcelains are used for dinnerware, decorative objects, and tiles, ranging from mass-produced everyday ware to high-value art ceramics. They remain a focus of collecting and restoration, with care requirements including avoiding rapid thermal changes and using appropriate cleaning methods to preserve glazes and delicate surfaces.