The best varieties of porcelain

Buying new dishes usually occurs when you move to a new apartment, buy new furniture, for a big event - Christmas, Epiphany or anniversary. We also buy porcelain for gifts. Dishes are something that stays with us for a long time, sometimes for many years. Buying cookware is a big expense, often a mini-investment, so it's worth taking the time to choose really good and quality cookware.

How to choose the right porcelain

What to look for in order to be happy with your choice and use it with pleasure. The first question that usually comes to mind when buying porcelain is the question of the shape of the dishes. What to choose, the classics or be seduced by the modern, the one that is in fashion now?

When answering this question, first of all, think about the fact that porcelain can serve for many years, so the dishes should have a look that will not get bored even after 5 years.

Bone China Tea Set

When choosing porcelain, take into account the style of the kitchen and dining room so that the dishes are not conspicuous, but blend in with and complement the rest of the setting.

When choosing porcelain, do not forget that this is only dishes and it should not dominate in its shape over the dishes that you will serve in it (some dishes do not look very good, but taste good. For example, soup, stew - they can be served in dishes of more complex shapes.)

What color should be porcelain

When choosing porcelain, it is worth deciding on its color. Which is better white or colored? Of course, white is more practical, everything looks good, clean and elegant on white dishes. In support of this statement, it can be noted that restaurants use white dishes, because the client should see the food, not the plate.

White porcelain

White is more versatile. With white dishes, you can change the table setting only with the help of accessories, such as napkin rings or candles. Alternatively, you can use individual colored items, such as a water jug ​​or vase, for variety. They will liven up the table setting.

When choosing the color of the dishes, you can pay attention to the prints. After all, porcelain with a light pattern is very beautiful. Here you need to take into account that most of the applied drawings are dictated by fashion and think about whether this print will get bored in a few years. But if you decide to buy porcelain with a print, it is better to choose a small print in soothing colors, rather than an aggressive pattern that occupies the whole dish in bright, intense colors.

Porcelain service or items separately

Having chosen the shape and color, now is the time to think about the quantity. How to buy porcelain - by the piece or immediately purchase a set for 6 or 12 persons? You need to ask yourself the question - does such a set correspond to individual needs, does it contain items that will not be used. Are all items of the correct size, etc. For example, is a vase the ideal container for a family or so large that it will be used once a year?

Beautiful porcelain with gilding

It is best to contact your dealer, who will offer to assemble a kit according to your individual needs.Then you can make the right decision about the size and number of plates and salad bowls.

Porcelain is quite expensive, so pay attention to its appearance, exclusivity and durability. To reduce one-time costs, you can spread the purchase over time and divide it into several parts. It makes sense if you are sure that the selected collection is always in the manufacturer's offer and will not be discontinued in the near future. Find out from the seller and buy some items in six months, a year or even several years.

Porcelain quality

When choosing porcelain, pay attention to its thickness. If the dishes are light, but have thick enough walls, then they are made of a porous material. The less porous the material, the more durable the cookware.

Antique bone china

When choosing porcelain, find out if it can be used in microwave ovens and dishwashers. This is important even if you don't have a microwave and dishwasher, because the dishes will be with you for many years. All items must have the information "dishwasher safe" (can be washed in dishwashers) and "microwafe safe" (can be used in a microwave oven). Usually porcelain decorated with precious metals is neither dishwasher safe nor microwave safe. But modern technologies have made great strides forward, so dishes with imitation of precious metals appeared on sale.

Porcelain service with blue patterns

Pay attention to the safety of the dishes in contact with food. The legislation in this area is quite strict. The entity presenting products to the market is responsible for food safety. The importer or manufacturer must obtain a sanitary certificate confirming that the content of substances hazardous to health does not exceed the established standards. Proof of this safety is considered to be a symbol on the product and a picture depicting a glass and a fork.

Which porcelain is considered more valuable

The most valuable is bone china. This porcelain is made using bone ash. In the most valuable porcelain, its content can be up to 65%. Such dishes are almost weightless, light and transparent, and at the same time very durable. Bone china can be afforded by fairly wealthy people. If you have a choice, pay attention to this particular type of porcelain.

Tea set, bone china

Table of contents:

1. Varieties of porcelain
2. Features of cold porcelain
3. Types of cold porcelain

Porcelain is widely used as a substance for making high quality tableware. Antiques are especially valued, the cost of which can exceed several thousand dollars.

Varieties of porcelain

Porcelain is a type of earthenware that is highly durable. To obtain it, a mixture of kaolin, feldspar, clay and quartz is fired at t up to 1500 ° C. Its main advantage is thermal and chemical resistance.

There are several types of china: hard, soft and bone. At first glance, it is clear which porcelain is better - of course, hard. Items made from it are distinguished by high strength and noble white color.

Cold porcelain is very popular among handicraftsmen. He has nothing to do with his namesake, being a plastic mass for crafts. Comparing ordinary and cold porcelain, it is difficult to answer which one is better - they are used for different purposes: one for creating dishes, the other for modeling.

Features of cold porcelain

If it is unrealistic to reproduce high-temperature porcelain at home, even a child can make cold porcelain.

The main components of this plastic substance are starch and PVA glue. It got its name because of the external similarity of the finished work with a high-temperature analogue.Since the mixture dries on its own and does not need to be fired, it was called “cold porcelain”.

On the shelves of handicraft stores, you can find many varieties of polymer clays that are superior in quality to porcelain. But this does not make him fewer fans because of his low cost. So, a self-made mass for modeling is 10 times cheaper than a store counterpart.

Types of cold porcelain

A wide range of products - from jewelry to household items - can be created from this versatile material. Floristic compositions that completely recreate natural plants are especially popular.

With your own hands, you can also make such an ornament as a bracelet.

Before choosing an object for creativity, you need to familiarize yourself with what kind of porcelain is and for what purposes a particular type is suitable. Its varieties:

• cellulosic;
• EFAPLASTlight;
• ClayCraft by DECO;
• Super Elasticlay MOLDMAKER;
• CRAFTPORCELAIN.

It is better to start your acquaintance with polymer clay with cellulose plasticine. It is an easy-to-work plastic mass, which, after drying, is easy to process. So, a failed solidified element can be moistened with water and given a new shape. The only limitation is that the consistency of the substance does not allow working with small parts.

EFAPLAST light and ClayCraft by DECO are the best for creating large objects. They can be used to create large leaves, baskets, stems, etc.

Super Elasticlay MOLDMAKER is versatile - it allows you to make both large and miniature parts with equal success. If you need a foundation for creating exceptionally fine details, you can use CRAFTPORCELAIN. It dries quickly and interacts well with paints.

It should be borne in mind that the listed materials are not cheap, it is much easier to make porcelain with your own hands. To prepare it, you must use 250 g of starch and PVA glue, a couple of tablespoons of glycerin, 1 spoon of nourishing hand cream, 0.5 tsp. citric acid. In a heat-resistant dish, glue, glycerin, citric acid and cream are mixed until a homogeneous consistency and starch is added in portions. The container with the mixture should be heated in a water bath or low heat, stirring constantly. When the substance ceases to be liquid and turns into a homogeneous lump, cold porcelain is ready.

11.10.2017

Porcelain tableware is part of the home, which is said to be "a full bowl". The porcelain tea set transforms an ordinary breakfast into a ceremony. In fragile cups and plates, the taste of food and drink changes, and a full assortment of tea ware on the table: cups, saucers, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug - delivers aesthetic pleasure to the owner and raises his self-esteem.

What is porcelain and what is it?

Porcelain dishes are distinguished by whiteness, strength, at the same time, lightness and transparency. Porcelain is made from fired clay, kaolin and spar. Depending on the composition and method of clay processing, the following types of porcelain are distinguished:

• soft;
• bone;
• hard (spatula).

The classification is carried out depending on the amount of kaolin: the higher the concentration, the better the porcelain.

The last variety is considered the best, real porcelain, from which elite dishes are made. It is surprisingly strong, heat resistant, with virtually no acid attack. Outwardly, hard porcelain dishes are exquisitely transparent, snow-white, with the slightest hint of blue.

Soft porcelain contains a high concentration of glass-like components and a small percentage of clay. Such dishes are more transparent, but less white, less durable and heat-resistant.

Bone china is so named because of the addition of burnt bone lime to the composition. In color, strength, hardness, transparency, it is between hard and soft varieties.

Depending on the type of material, the purpose of the porcelain tableware is determined.The daily meal involves hard or bone china on the table; transparent and fragile dishes made of soft material are most often used as a decorative ornament.

World brands

In the world of porcelain, reputation and brand are almost everything. After all, it is they who guarantee compliance with environmental and hygienic safety standards. Having bought branded products, a person is sure that he will not get poisoned by consuming food from a brightly painted plate. Like centuries ago, today it is German (especially Meissen figurines), Russian, Chinese, French and English porcelain.

Such tableware and tea utensils are offered by well-known brands in the porcelain industry:

• Augarten is a Viennese manufactory that has been producing premium goods in strictly limited editions for three centuries. One hundred percent hand-maid produced for a specific occasion. These are family sets on special order with monograms or emblems, collectible coffee cups or a set of "plates of the year" of 365 pieces.
• Imperial Porcelain - the first Russian porcelain factory; kept production in full. A legendary enterprise, a supplier to the royal court, which produced sets containing up to a thousand items.
• Meissen is the oldest European brand. For almost three hundred years of history, no two identical products have been produced. All dishes and unique figurines are painted by hand; no solid auction can do without them.
• Noritake - Japanese luxury with classic lines. Translucent in the light, decorated with gold and platinum. Especially appreciated is environmentally friendly bone china with olive tint, the recipe of which is a trade secret of the company. The sets are made in limited editions, after which the blanks are broken, immediately turning the dishes into an exclusive. Oriental sophistication is complemented by practicality: porcelain is dishwasher safe.
• Royal Albert has been making bone white English porcelain for over a century. It is not only beautiful, but also durable. Supplier to the Royal Court of Great Britain.
• Villeroy & Boch - produces bone crockery with classic shapes in white and blue tones. Adherents of asymmetry will delight in ethnic collections. All dishes are heat resistant, do not react to microwave or dishwasher.

Marking in the form of a trademark is located on the bottom of the product from the outside.

If you do not care about prestige issues, but only care about quality, you should know that products of different varieties are supplied with a stamp of the corresponding color: the first grade is red, the second is blue, the third is green.

Where is porcelain used?

Porcelain is traditionally and widely used as a material for the manufacture of sets and individual items for eating.

Porcelain kitchen utensils are considered the most elite in this segment. It is much more prestigious than glass, faience or any other. This is a symbol of wealth, timeless or fashionable, an essential element of the festive table setting.

There are different types of china: tableware, coffee and tea; exclusive for special occasions or everyday use.

Expensive tea or table sets made of hard porcelain, valued for their perfect whiteness, strength and heat resistance, are an attribute of luxury restaurants, private meals of high-profile persons or wealthy people. In ordinary houses, if there is, for example, real English porcelain, they take it out of the sideboard on holidays. For every day, simpler dishes are in demand: low-cost cups, plates, saucers. But they are still more prestigious than heavier and more opaque earthenware dishes.

One of the newest fashion trends for rich people is interior porcelain.

The second area of ​​use of porcelain is figurines, figurines and other small plastic used for interior decoration. Along with the traditional fashionable hobby, it became possible to make figurines or flowers from cold porcelain.

The composition is called so because it is cooked at room temperature or over low heat. For work you need water, baking soda, starch, vegetable oil. The mixture is heated. Without any heat treatment, a composition of starch, petroleum jelly, soda and PVA glue is used. There are also similar mixtures with the addition of dyes. But in any case, hand-made cold porcelain crafts are exclusive and can become a source of pride or start a business.

Decor

Porcelain crockery can have embossed or smooth, monochrome or multi-colored decor.

The relief is applied to the plates or the walls of the cups by engraving or perforation. It is cast in a special shape along with the dishes, but some elements are made separately and then glued.

Smooth decor is performed under the glaze or over it. For example, Chinese dishes have underglaze treatment: blue painting on a white background. The drawing is applied to the workpiece, which, together with the glaze, is then fed to the firing. The overglaze method means painting porcelain with colored enamel. The use of this technique is limited by a meager palette.

The classic is always at the peak of popularity: white porcelain dishes without any decorations. The highest grades of porcelain do not need them - the "breed" is so clearly visible. The variety is only in the design of the forms, but it is also elegantly restrained.

For fans of everything bright, sets are produced with an original colorful surface design.

Experts do not advise buying sets or individual items from little-known manufacturers, brightly decorated in combination with mother-of-pearl - cadmium or lead may be found there.

Care of porcelain products

The main characteristic of porcelain dishes is strength and durability with careful care. The vulnerable side is darkening and loss of its original flawless appearance during use, but this is not critical if you know how to clean it correctly. The original shine and whiteness can be restored in several ways:

• wiping the dishes with a soft sponge dipped in turpentine;
• traces of coffee, tea or other drinks are wiped with a strong solution of soda or salt;
• other stains are removed with a warm, weak solution of ammonia;
• do not leave porcelain dishes in water for a long time;
• dishes with a pattern are washed with not too hot water;
• beautiful dishes do not like household chemicals, especially abrasive powders that can scratch the surface;
• it is better to wash with products specially created for porcelain or non-aggressive, inactive, for example, soap;
• it is better if the porcelain dishes are washed by hand, cleaned separately from other devices, with a soft sponge;
• at the time of washing, you need to remove rings, rings so as not to scratch it;
• dishes with a metal decor are not, under any circumstances, put in the microwave or dishwasher;
• the washed dishes are wiped with a soft cloth and immediately put to dry.

Rarely used porcelain plates are shifted with white paper or napkins, and the cups are not stacked so that the handles do not break off.

Quality control

The appearance largely determines the quality of the porcelain tableware. Visual assessment criteria:

• Aesthetic appeal: a set, sugar bowl or plate is a pleasure to look at.
• Real porcelain is not decorated with lush decor, the pattern is only partially present.
• In the light, the best quality material is transparent, with tints of milk, cream or freshly fallen snow. You can determine the real shade of the product by looking at its bottom.
• In the normal or inverted position, the cups or plates are stable, do not wobble, do not tilt.
• The glaze should be free of cracks, blotches, scratches.
• There is always an unpainted rim on the bottom, allowing you to appreciate the original color of the porcelain.
• Hearing test. High-quality porcelain, if you knock on it lightly, emits a light melodic ringing.
• Tactile test. Porcelain, even imposing in appearance, is actually light.High-quality dishes are distinguished by pleasant smoothness, rounded edges or decor details, no gaps, chips, porous inclusions, roughness, bubbles.

For example, genuine English porcelain is recognized by its smooth outlines, subtlety, delicate artistic work, and the predominance of floral motifs.

Real porcelain is sold only in large specialized stores or from authorized dealers with the necessary documentation.

Investment object

Antique porcelain tableware can be a very profitable investment - its price never falls, but only increases.

An antique porcelain cup or plate requires care, but adorns the interior of any style. Loved by collectors and figurines, especially from Meissen. The price of well-preserved copies of world brands reaches thousands of dollars at auctions. The coveted object of hunting for connoisseurs is the rarities of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, once made for the royal family of Russia.

Nice gift, useful hobby

If you do not know what to give a person, feel free to buy a cup and saucer for tea. This porcelain tea pair is sometimes complemented by a spoon and a glass of water. A gift is appropriate almost in any case - everyone loves to have some tea.

A visit to a restaurant is an opportunity not only to eat delicious food, but also to have a good time. A beautifully set table with exclusive porcelain dishes will add sophistication and originality to even an ordinary dinner - the nuances that distinguish high-level restaurants and cafes from ordinary catering establishments.

The right choice of serving items for the restaurant will enable the establishment to form its own unique style. In today's fierce competition, this is important. The main requirements for professional tableware in the restaurant business are reliability and durability, combined with creative design and adequate price.

A restaurateur, choosing porcelain dishes, often faces a dilemma: faience or porcelain. And in order to find a solution, it is necessary first of all to evaluate the advantages of high-quality porcelain tableware in comparison with other types of ceramics.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Porcelain Tableware

So, the advantages of elite porcelain tableware:

• Grace, sophistication, beauty, classic forms.
• First-class quality.
• Environmental friendliness and safety for health.
• Perfect glazed surface.
• Moisture absorption is below 0.2%. For comparison: faience has 9 ~ 12%.
• The ability to keep warm.
• Resistance to aggressive detergents.
• Dishwasher resistant.
• Convenience of stacking and storage;
• Unaffected by aging.

Porcelain dishes are nevertheless ceramics, although they are of high quality, therefore they require careful handling, they cannot bear strong blows, and this is its main drawback.

Prices for quality porcelain are quite high, which is also a disadvantage for budget establishments.

Types of porcelain

Porcelain is a type of fine ceramic made by sintering at a high temperature of kaolin - high-quality white clay mixed with quartz sand, feldspar and other additives.

Good porcelain stands out for its translucency, lightness, and pure melodic response upon impact.

There are several types of porcelain, differing in heat treatment technology and composition:

• Soft. The glazed porcelain mass undergoes one sintering procedure at 1300 ~ 1350 °. This gentle firing makes the ceramics porous and absorbent. Soft porcelain has the potential for internal cracks. It is usually inexpensive and used in budget establishments.
• Solid. Double heat treatment at 1400 ~ 1460 °. This kind of porcelain is appreciated in middle class establishments. Its cost is already quite high, but it is fully consistent with the quality.

There are two more varieties based on hard porcelain:

• Reinforced. It contains metals that strengthen the strength.The dishes are not cheap and are preferred by the owners of high-end restaurants and clubs.
• Bone. Up to 50% bone meal is added to its structure. This makes the porcelain particularly durable, and at the same time refined, thin-walled, with a beautiful dazzling white or creamy shade. Bone china belongs to the VIP category and is highly prized. Dishes made of it are rarely used on a daily basis, more often they can be found at banquets and receptions of the highest level.

Porcelain tableware for restaurants

Choice of porcelain tableware

The specificity of the restaurant business imposes a number of requirements on the tableware, which should be taken into account when choosing. Specialists are guided by three golden rules:

1. Practical and durable. For catering establishments, it is better to use crockery with thick edges and made of high-quality resistant material. Attention should be paid to the resistance of ceramics to various thermal conditions.
2. Form. Cookware with simple shapes is more suitable for everyday use. For example, round and oval plates stack better and are less prone to chipping at the corners, as is the case with triangular or square plates.
3. Colour. Dishes of light shades, typical of porcelain, always look beautiful on the table. By the way, sometimes you can replace an accidentally broken item from one service of a light shade with another similar to it from another.

Major manufacturing companies

The modern market offers porcelain tableware from leading world manufacturers that can satisfy the most demanding needs.

German firms

Seltmann Weiden German porcelain is an elite tableware for high-level establishments:

• The latest fashion trends and unusual design solutions are embodied in the company's bright and creative collections:
• SAVOY is a contrast between classic and modern. Perfectly thought out color and style. Along with soft rounded shapes, unusual asymmetric outlines appeared. Cookware in this series is always unique.
• MERAN is devoid of any decor, but graceful forms and calm classic lines and colors have become its true decoration.
• MOZART in a luxurious baroque style. The embossed decorative ornament emphasizes the delicate grace of the tableware. A very suitable option for social receptions and VIP banquets.

Founded in 1879, SCHÖNWALD is one of the largest in Germany.

The SCHÖNWALD trademark - a stylized herringbone - can be found on tableware in the restaurants of Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott and others. Porcelain crockery according to the legendary formula of Herman Gretsch, produced since 1936, is still a tremendous success.

The latest SCHÖNWALD fashion trend is reflected in the WellCome series.

Designer Karsten Golnik created it in a distinctive asymmetrical style. Thanks to additives fromaluminum oxide the products became reliable in operation and acquired a special shine and shade, changing from blue in daylight to beige in evening lighting.

Prices are high, but quite consistent with German quality. For example, the Seltmann Weiden table set of 24 items for 6 persons - from 22.5 thousand rubles.

Lyudmila Dashkovetskaya, manager of the tableware department of the "Delovaya Rus" company, shares her impressions:

• It is difficult to overestimate the products of German manufacturers: they are always in demand. Customers choose it for its wide assortment, excellent quality and durability, for its elegant design, which will always suit establishments of a wide variety of formats.

Russian firms

The most famous companies for the production of porcelain in Russia:

• Dulevo Porcelain Factory is one of the oldest, founded in 1832. A distinctive feature of the products is the original painting in the folk style, the so-called agashki. Porcelain is distinguished by its special strength and transparency, glaze resistance.
• Kubanfarfor - since 1960, one of the largest manufacturers of porcelain and faience products. The trademark of the company is a soaring seagull. Porcelain is made from semi-finished products supplied from China.The products of the plant are chosen by many budgetary establishments of the country: having a decent quality, the dishes have very affordable prices.

Olga Zueva, specialist of the department of complex equipment of retail objects, says:

• Porcelain products of domestic manufacturers are presented in a wide range and at affordable prices. It is always in demand by mid-range catering establishments who prefer it for its practicality and presentable appearance.

Czech firms

Czech porcelain produced by Rudolf Kämpf is known under three brands:

• Rudolf Kämpf itself - Premium handcrafted for the exclusive consumer.
• Leander - tableware and porcelain products for the consumer in the mass-market segment.
• Leander HoReCa - professional porcelain tableware for hotels and restaurants.

Rudolf Kämpf products are very diverse and at the same time original. The factory's craftsmen also create exclusive tableware in various styles: romantic, futuristic, art-deco, etc. Designers are constantly finding new solutions, embodying them in porcelain, for example, products based on the masterpieces of Salvador Dali.

Prices for products are different: from very affordable Leander HoReCa porcelain to high prices for tableware for individual use.

Yulia Artyukhova, brand manager of the RADIUS company, shares her impressions of the cookware:

• Professional tableware of the Czech factory Rudolf Kämpf creates new serving possibilities. Fine products are often of unusual shapes and avant-garde design solutions. The quality is amazing. These utensils are very pleasant to use. The warmth put in by the masters emanates from it.