Porcelain

📖 In short

Porcelain, or china, is a beautiful kind of fine, strong white pottery first made in China more than a thousand years ago, which is why it's called “china”. We make plates, cups and elegant vases from it.

🤩 Did you know?

Production of English Worcester porcelain began in 1751.
Transfer printing made decorating porcelain easier in 1756.
Porcelain is fired in kilns hotter than 1200 degrees.
In English porcelain is called “china”, after China.

🔎 Find out more

🌟 A special clay

Porcelain is made from fine white clay called kaolin, mixed with other materials, then shaped and fired in a very hot kiln, so it becomes hard and shiny.

🔍 So thin light passes through

If you hold a thin porcelain cup up to a light, you may see the shadow of your fingers through it, because it's thin and lets some light through.

💡 Blue and white

China was famous for white porcelain decorated with beautiful blue pictures of flowers, birds and landscapes. Ships carried it to many countries, and people all over the world loved it.

🎯 An old secret

Europeans tried for a long time to find out the secret of making porcelain, until they finally succeeded hundreds of years later and began making it in their own factories.