What is porcelain? What is china? Is porcelain china?

I am a porcelain artist—I love all porcelain! Porcelain is my medium. I work with the clay, personally use porcelain dishes (chinaware) every day, and sell it at the Tearoom. I want you to understand and love this beautiful stuff, too, so let me give you some information that may help you appreciate and enjoy it maybe a little bit more.

Porcelain vs. Stoneware

First of all, what is the difference between porcelain and stoneware? The clay used in porcelain (called kaolin) is a Primary Clay. This means it has simply been broken down from the rock it was made of. It is very pure, its particles are larger, and it is less plastic than Secondary Clay.

Stoneware and all ceramic-ware comes from Secondary Clay. This clay has been broken down from its original rock form, and it has been moved from its original place by water and rain. Its particles are finer and more plastic than kaolin simply because it has been beaten and pummeled on its way. However, because it has traveled so far from the rock it came from, it has picked up impurities along the way, usually iron. What this means is that porcelain clay is much harder to work with and form, since it is not as plastic and pliable as stoneware.

The Beauty of Porcelain

Porcelain has always been extraordinary and unequaled. At first it was prized and collected as suitable gifts between princes and was exorbitantly expensive. Always, porcelain was desired, and its recipe and manufacture sought after. Its making was a state secret, first in the Orient, then in Europe. There are four characteristics that make porcelain absolutely unique:

1. It is pure and beautifully white. Your tea will sparkle in it, and dinner will look more stunning sitting upon it, too.
2. It is the only clay body that is translucent. One way to be able to discern if a piece of chinaware is porcelain or stoneware is to hold it up to a strong light source. If you can see the shadow of your fingers behind it in the light, then it is porcelain.
3. It is hard, harder than steel (truly! Rated 6 to 7 on Moh’s scale, while steel is rated 5). Have you heard of porcelain knives? They are more durable than steel knives and do not need to be sharpened like your normal knife. Porcelain is twice as strong as earthenware, so important in functional pieces (Don’t you just hate chips in your dinnerware?).
4. It is resonant; it is musical. Small, thin cups have a delicate ring, while larger pieces have a deeper, longer resonance. Stoneware thuds. Porcelain pings and sings!

Using and Caring for Your Porcelain:

Use it! It is better to use it than keep it stored away. It is precious and beautiful; why would you not? If you use it, you will:

Enjoy it! You own something of value with which you may honor those around you. Every time you use your chinaware for others, you honor them, and tell them how special they are to you. It is a gift. Better to use it and lose it—at least you will have the memories. Plan to use it. Plan ways to use it. Teach your children to value it, so they will know how much they are valued when you use it with them.

Value it! Pure kaolin clay is found in few places in the world. Porcelain is an art with the grace of its beauty and loveliness. Its history is long and filled with adventure. It is a formidable medium to work with, so it is well worth the cost of owning it.

Handle with care! Wash by hand. Handle it with care, as you would anything of value. Never put it in microwave if there is any gold, metal, or luster on it.

I hope this information helps you know, enjoy, and use your porcelain!

Yours for the return of Grace, Civility, Beauty, Gentility, and Excellence,

Mary Alice