Pottery is an art form that people have been practicing since earliest recorded history. The making of earthenware and ceramic products has always been and will continue to be a part of our history. Throughout the years, craftsmen refined the way they made ceramics, experimenting with different materials and methods to come up with better products. One such product is porcelain.
Porcelain is believed to have originated in China dating back to nearly the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. It is a ceramic material that is formed when raw materials such as clay, feldspar, glass, bone ash, or quartz, are heated in a kiln at around 1200 to 1400 degrees Celsius. The Chinese had been making fine porcelain for years, but it wasn't common in other parts of the world until the 17th century when China began exporting porcelain to Europe. Because of the Chinese expertise and superiority in the making of porcelain, the word china was often used synonymously with the word porcelain.
For years the Europeans experimented with trying to discover the secret of Chinese porcelain with little success. Finally in 1708 two German scientists discovered the right mixture of ingredients to make true porcelain. A factory was established in Meissen and Meissen porcelain was born. After much experimentation with the method, a few superior European porcelain makers emerged. England was a leader in the porcelain world with the discovery of adding bone ash to the porcelain to create bone china. Several famous makers of English porcelain still exist, including Royal Doulton and Wedgewood. Making earthenware and ceramic products is part of our heritage as humans and we will continue to create products from these natural materials. |
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