petuntse

Petuntse, also spelled petuntze or petuntia, is a historical term used to designate a siliceous, feldspathic rock that served as one of the principal components in traditional Chinese hard-paste porcelain. It is sometimes referred to as porcelain stone or china stone.

In Chinese porcelain production, hard-paste bodies were formed by combining purified kaolin (china clay) with a silica- and flux-bearing rock such as petuntse. The rock provided feldspar and silica, acting as a flux and glass former when fired at high temperatures, enabling vitrification and a dense, translucent body.

Geographical sources and trade: Petuntse deposits were associated with southern China, particularly in Jiangxi Province around Jingdezhen, though the exact geology varied. The term was adopted by European traders and potters from the 16th to 18th centuries to refer to this raw material; in early texts, petuntse was sometimes confused with related ceramic materials.

Historical significance and modern usage: The concept of petuntse is central to the traditional hard-paste porcelain, as opposed to soft-paste bodies. In modern porcelain science, the terminology has become less common, with the material usually described as a feldspathic rock or as part of the porcelain body rather than under the classic name.