Porcelain tableware and its features

Plates and cups for daily use should be durable, beautiful and safe for health. Porcelain , a special type of glazed ceramic, meets all these requirements. The dishes made from it are famous for their exquisite beauty and ease of care. But in order to choose high-quality porcelain products, you need to know the features of this unique material.

What is porcelain

The basis of any ceramics is baked clay. Various additives help increase its strength, from wood ash to crushed stone. Porcelain was originally made from white kaolin clay and feldspar. In the 21st century, the composition is also enriched with crushed quartz and yellow clay.

The material differs from other types of ceramics in three important qualities - hardness, whiteness, transparency. The fine-pored texture gives the products smoothness and a beautiful shine. They are resistant to damage, high temperatures and chemical influences, are easy to clean, and do not absorb foreign odors.

History of the origin of porcelain

It is difficult to determine the exact age of the unique material, since the first examples of similar ceramics were produced in China already 3000 BC. Products more reminiscent of modern porcelain appeared in the 7th century AD. Chinese merchants transported them along the Great Silk Road to the countries of the Middle East.

After 400 years, porcelain production in China acquired an industrial scale. A special “dragon” kiln was invented for firing. One oven produced up to 100 thousand pieces of tableware per day. It was actively traded with many countries, including European ones. In the 14th–17th centuries, French and English aristocrats willingly bought plates, vases, and figurines with blue and white designs. Such goods were considered objects of art and were often decorated with precious metals.

The first European porcelain began to be produced in Florence, but its composition was different from the original. The secret of Chinese material was discovered only in the 18th century, at the Meissen factory in Saxony. By adding fired bone meal to the ceramic mixture, the Saxons achieved famous strength.

Now the best porcelain factories are located in Germany, the Czech Republic, and France. But China remains the leader in mass production, producing inexpensive utensils for the home, cafes, and restaurants.

Types of porcelain tableware

An unusual ceramic material is used to create a variety of products - salad bowls , vases , tea and table sets . Manufacturers use three types of porcelain - hard, soft and bone. The first type is made from a mixture of kaolin and mineral additives. It is distinguished by a whitish-gray hue, high strength and an eggshell-like texture.

The bone variety is made from kaolin clay and burnt bone powder. Such dishes have a smooth surface and withstand physical and temperature impacts well.

The mild type imitates the composition of the original Chinese recipe. It contains kaolin and glassy minerals, and is fired at lower temperatures than the classic version. This treatment gives the material a sandy tint. In terms of smoothness and strength, it is inferior to the original Chinese composition.

The modern kitchen utensils market offers three main types of porcelain tableware:

• cups, plates, salad bowls, sugar bowls, teapots. From them you can assemble a unique set suitable for a specific home;
• services – ready-made sets for drinking tea, serving coffee, and a full-fledged feast. The style and number of items are thought out by the manufacturer, the buyer only needs to select the number of persons;
• baking dishes - deep vessels suitable for oven and microwave. There are baking trays for meat, poultry, fish, molds for sweet casseroles and pies.

Porcelain utensils give the kitchen interior an atmosphere of refined nobility. It is more expensive than metal and glassware, but it fully pays for its price in durability and beauty.

Advantages of porcelain tableware

In the old days, only the rich bought Chinese ceramics. Now it has become a mass product available to everyone. The popularity of porcelain is due to its qualities, including:

• durability – despite their external fragility, porcelain utensils are among the strongest household items. Firing at high temperatures makes the dishes extremely durable. The low-porous surface does not suffer from chips and scratches;
• heat resistance – suitable for use in ovens, microwaves, freezers;
• hygiene – does not absorb fat, odors, bacteria;
• simplicity inprogress - the smooth surface is quickly washed with ordinary water and soap;

But the main advantage of porcelain products is versatility. The variety of assortment helps you choose the desired color, size, design, as well as an affordable price.

How to distinguish porcelain from ceramics

The main difference lies in the manufacturing technology. Clay predominates in ceramic products , with little or no mineral additives. These are explained by the lower strength of ceramics.

But you can distinguish materials without even reading the composition. It is enough to check the product according to five external signs:

• thickness - ceramic ware is rougher, with thick walls;
• transparency - things made of porcelain let light through a little;
• sound - when a porcelain object is lightly struck, a melodic ringing occurs. Ceramics respond with a dull sound;
• bottom structure - if the bottom is equipped with a white rim and there is no glaze on it, this is real porcelain;
• price - ceramic products are always cheaper.

Sometimes design helps to distinguish materials - ceramics are usually decorated more simply, in a folk style, porcelain looks more elegant. It is so beautiful in itself that it is rarely covered with continuous painting.

How to distinguish porcelain dishes from earthenware

Burnt clay serves as the basis for the manufacture of many household items. Earthenware is also made from a clay-mineral mixture, with a predominance of kaolin. The composition is less durable than porcelain, the surface is large-porous. Earthenware products are fired at a temperature of +1000-1300 °C .

Externally, products made from both materials look beautiful, especially with painting and gilding. But upon closer examination, differences are noticeable:

• weight – porcelain items are always lighter;
• color – natural faience, without painting, available in blue, red, green. Porcelain is always white;
• sound - earthenware items respond to a light blow with a dull ringing;
• bottom - the lower part of the porcelain tableware is rough, without glaze.

The specificity of faience is that the glazed layer is gradually covered with tiny craquelures - cracks. This does not reduce the value of the product. But in a store such a feature cannot be noticed; it manifests itself over time.

How to choose porcelain dishes

The first thing to evaluate when choosing is the purpose of application. If you will use plates and cups every day, give preference to a laconic design. If you are looking for a service for special occasions, choose an elegant design with decorative elements and gilding.

Here are three more important criteria:

• profile - stores offer sets for tea, coffee, hot dishes, desserts. Decide in advance what you need, consider whether the service can be used for several purposes;
• number of people – taking into account this factor, you will not spend extra money on unnecessary items;
• care methods - if you only use a dishwasher, you need to choose products that can be washed automatically.

The quality of a future purchase is determined by price. A good set for six people cannot cost less than 10 thousand rubles.

How to care for porcelain

The strength of the material provides it with an almost unlimited service life. It is enough to follow simple rules of care:

• wash dishes by hand, unless the instructions indicate that automatic washing is allowed;
• Use warm water to wash, rinse with cool water;
• use non-aggressive means - soft sponges, microfiber cloths, gel detergents;
• do not soak porcelain items for a long time, especially in hot water;
• dry the cups on a wooden board, turning them upside down. Place the plates in the dryer.

Porcelain rarely darkens. If dark spots do appear on the surface, clean them with a sponge with toothpaste or foam from baby soap. Stains from tea and coffee can be easily removed with a cotton pad soaked in vinegar.

Porcelain tableware storage

The shiny glazed surface quickly collects dust. To avoid this, sets are kept in closed cabinets. If the doors are glazed, beautiful products will simultaneously play the role of interior decor.

Instead of a cabinet, you can use a durable box - wooden or plastic. The dishes are placed inside, filling the gaps with crumpled paper. You can wrap each item separately in a paper towel.

Products with figured elements - sugar bowls, creamers - are placed on the upper shelves. The lids are placed upside down or attached to the handles with thin rubber bands.

Plates , saucers</a>, bowls that are used daily are stored in a closed kitchen cabinet. They can be placed on top of each other, transferring them with paper napkins. This prevents scratches on the glaze. Tea and coffee cups should not be stacked to avoid breaking the handles. It is better to use special “tea trees” with hangings.

Porcelain products should be stored out of direct sunlight. Bright light gradually destroys the glaze.