The Ornate And Beautiful History Of Porcelain

There is a very sound reason, just in case anybody ever wondered

, why it is that porcelain is often referred to in the English language as china. China, in actual fact, is where porcelain was invented.

The first real porcelain was developed under the Han Dynasty from earlier glazed ceramic wares, themselves dating back as far as 1600 BC and the Shang Dynasty. It became particularly highly valued in the Islamic world, to which it was exported in large quantities.

As the artistry around porcelain production became more sophisticated, so it became more widely exported, at first to East Asia and then later to Europe. Some of the most widely known and popular porcelain art forms appeared during the later Ming Dynasty, and these gave rise to a substantial increase in export trade. During this era sought-after designs like the famous blue and white wares white porcelain decorated beneath the glaze with a blue pigment - found their way across Europe and elsewhere.

The word porcelain is derived from the Italian porcellana, or cowrie shell because of its physical resemblance to same. However the word china has itself come into common usage throughout English-speaking countries.

The essential material upon which porcelain is based is kaolin clay, despite the fact that minerals derived from clay will often only comprise a small proportion of the overall product. Other raw materials that may be used include ball clay, petuntse, bone ash, feldspar, steatite, quartz, glass and alabaster.

Porcelain now is of course produced in many countries, including the UK. William Cookworthys discovery of kaolin in Cornwall in the eighteenth century led to the manufacture of his own variety at his Plymouth factory which was founded in 1768. Cookworthys porcelain resembles very closely the properties of the Chinese original.

A modern use of porcelain is as a building material, mainly as tiles or as large rectangular panels. These are created to a series of recognised international definitions and standards, Italy at present being the world leader in the field. Rooms decorated entirely in porcelain may be seen in palaces all around of Europe.

There are very many places in the Peoples Republic of China where one can visit and see porcelain being made and sold in its natural environment. For non-nationals entering into the country a Chinese visa is required. Often if the proposed visit is at short notice or has to take place quickly it is possible for one to organise an urgent Chinese visa, which will normally be made available on the same day.

by: rajasal

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