These days, the word china is the typical phrase used to describe tableware as a whole; the word initially coined as a name to reflect the porcelain that was first made by the Chinese.
The first known china was recorded as early as 1600 BC during the Shang Dynasty, but across Europe, the practice is a relatively new technique; learnt by the French and the Germans during the early 18th century.
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What Are Your Requirements?
Top Tip: Don’t rush into buying anything; take your time to choose the right set for you.
Purchasing chinaware isn’t a simple matter. Whether you’re a new collector, or a seasoned antiquarian, it’s essential to take your time and enjoy it.
Choices
Choosing the right set can be a difficult decision since the options are virtually endless. The choices you make should be a statement of your style, tastes and personality, which does take a while to find something that really does reflect you.
You’ll need to consider the following carefully:
- Colour
- Style
- Pattern
- Feel
- Shape
- Design
- Quality
- Price
The market is growing faster than ever before and you can find a huge selection of different options to suit absolutely any budget and taste.
High-End Options
The higher end of the china market can be categorised into the following:
- Porcelain
- Fine China
- Bone China
Fine China & Porcelain
Although porcelain can be known under several aliases, including fine china, its high-quality is something that remains a constant, whatever name it’s given. Fine china is resilient, shock-proof, bright white and superbly solid. Most kinds, such as that from Royal Doulton and Burleigh, are exquisite and noticeably very thin, but still very hardy.
Fine china items are made up of several ceramic materials – kaolin, quartz and feldspar – and then heated up to temperatures reaching between 1300 to 1400 degrees Celsius in a kiln.
During this process, the ceramic composition morphs into the thin, glass-like material we know as porcelain. Porcelain is the purest, most translucent ceramic available on the market.
The difference between porcelain and fine china is the firing temperature; porcelain is heated at higher temperatures than fine china.
The resulting temperature change means that porcelain isn’t as delicate and translucent, although it’s still just as durable and strong.
When selecting fine china or porcelain, it’s crucial to choose chinaware that was fired at high temperatures, as this will mean that the dishwasher will not tarnish the pattern over time.
Top Tip: Porcelain is often divided into three categories: hard-paste porcelain, soft-paste porcelain, and bone china.
Bone China
Bone China originated in England and was perfected by the famous potter Josiah Spode to compete with the influx of Chinese porcelain imported into Britain.
The main difference between fine china and porcelain is the use of cow or ox bone-ash in the ceramic material during the manufacturing process.
The fine particles of burnt animal bone give china its strength, creamy white colour and incredible clarity.
The highest quality bone china should contain anywhere between 30 to 45% bone ash, whereas lower quality bone china can contain as little as 5%. Bone china isn’t necessarily the strongest product, but it is far more translucent than fine china, and the colour won’t be bright white, but instead more of warm cream colour when compared to porcelain alternatives.
Everyday Options
The more everyday items are less expensive and can be separated into two categories:
- Earthenware
- Stoneware
Earthenware
Earthenware is a kind of ceramic which is fired at lower temperatures, which means that the glaze needs to be absolutely impenetrable. Otherwise, moisture can destroy the structure.
Refined Earthenware was developed in Europe during the 1700s by Josiah Wedgewood as a cheaper alternative to porcelain; in fact, it is otherwise known as ‘semi-porcelain’ despite not being porcelain at all.
Most every day dinnerware sets these days are made of earthenware since the manufacturing process is much cheaper, but the finished product is still very durable due to its double kiln-firing.
Earthenware comes in a range of styles, colors, and patterns is lightweight and far coarser than stoneware.
There are typically three types of earthenware on the market:
- Terracotta, which is often used for baking.
- Ironstone used primarily as dinnerware.
- Dolomite is the least recommended for food and dinnerware.
Although earthenware isn’t as expensive as the high-end options, it can chip and break more quickly than porcelain and stoneware – but it is better for everyday use.
Stoneware
It was thought that stoneware was developed anywhere between 1600 and 1046 BCE during the Shang Dynasty; making its debut in Europe in the late eighteenth century.
Stoneware is opaque ceramic tableware, made most commonly made of clay and fired at high temperatures to vitrify the mixture to ensure robust durability. Each item won’t be translucent like bone china but are far stronger, which makes them ideal for everyday usage.
Before You Buy
Both earthenware and stoneware costs much less but is of inferior quality and durability than the options at the higher end of the market.
Most people use earthen or stoneware for general use and the top of the line options for special occasions.
Generally speaking, dinnerware enthusiasts will invest in a high-quality set that will last them for many years and replace everyday sets as they get worn or damaged.
What Do I Need for a Complete China Set?
Obviously, before deciding which dinnerware to use, you’ll need to know how many you’re catering to.
Top Tip: A standard place setting should include china, cutlery and drinkware for each person, which adds up to five pieces per person. For a complete china set traditionally you’ll require the following:
- Dinner plates of 10.5 inches
- Salad plates of 7.5 – 9 inches
- Bread plates of 6.75 inches
- Soup bowls
- Saucers of 6.75 inches
- Tea or coffee cups
- Cutlery
- Dessert plates between 8.5 – 9 inches
- Drinkware
For a more complete set, you could add chargers, service ware and a full tea set. You could start with a smaller set for 4 or 8 people and add further place settings as required.
