Pottery & China

You probably have a diverse selection of pottery and china collected because you like it, which is as good of a reason as any. However, as one becomes more serious and discerning about what these figurines and trinkets are, the more one needs to understand how and with what they are made. The subject of ceramic production is huge and if you need in depth knowledge then you should consult your local library or consult the online booksellers.

Pottery and china are words bandied about without really being aware of what they mean; for the collector it is necessary to understand the basics so he can know what he has or is buying. All ceramics are based on some form of clay found locally or imported. Earthenware is the basic clay based product fired at 1000°C to 1150ºC and is usually porous e.g. simple pots like flower pots. Stoneware is the basic clay fired at 1150ºC to 1400ºC and tends to be non-porous e.g. Royal Doulton jugs and pots Porcelain is make from kaolin clay (white in colour) or similar and fired at 1300ºC. This tends to be hard and brittle. There are soft paste and hard paste variants on this as well. Other variants include bone, hence bone china and porcelain and should not be confused with modern materials which are much more sophisticated.

All the potters worldwide made variations on these basic processes and there are hundreds of additives which changed the characteristics of the clay, Wedgwood developed Jasperware in the 18th century which is a stoneware with properties of porcelain still in production today. There are any number of glazes used to seal the body or decorate it. It is a very complex subject because every potter was trying to outdo his competitor and still is. Suffice it to say there are variations in these production methods, whether it is the huge mass producers or the small studio potter. All are collectible.

Deciding on what to collect may at first appear daunting, but if you consider your interests it is easy to narrow the field down to a few or even one area.

The first thing to do is to decide old or new? Then which century 18th, 19th, 20th or even 21st. Prior to the 18th century takes us into medieval, roman and earlier. Many will be classified as antiquities and is a fascinating subject in its own right. You must consult specialist books on this subject. There are many fakes.

You may decide to collect “Blue and White”, popular and expensive, Carlton Ware still available at a reasonable price, Art Deco pieces or Staffordshire Figures which can be expensive, fairings – originally given away at fairs, animals by many manufacturers which vary in price depending on quality, advertising pieces, commemorative ware, crested china, decorative plates of which there are thousands (you can collect by theme or manufacturer) and any number of studio pottery pieces. There are many studio potters, some famous, others not so, some of which are easy to collect today since they have not entered the realm of desirable antiques.

Consult any book on collectibles and you will find many names new to you. Whatever you collect make sure you are well read on the subject. Only collect perfect or expertly restored pieces because damaged pieces are worth a fraction of the price of a perfect piece. This way you can avoid the many pitfalls in the collecting market.

Things You Should Know When Collecting Bone China Pottery

Bone China Pottery refers to the kind of porcelain that began to be manufactured in Staffordshire potteries by the end of the eighteenth century. Simply put, it is porcelain with added animal bone ash as stabilizer. Traditionally, the recipe was 3.5 parts kaolin or china clay, four parts china stone (later on replaced by feldspar) and six parts of bone ash. The output was stronger, more translucent, ivory-like porcelain.

Experiments on the mixing of bone ash and porcelain had been undertaken in several potteries before 1750. In 1748, an English potter called Thomas Frye who had his factory near cattle markets and slaughterhouses tried formulating for this kind of china china and called his product “fine porcelain” but he didn’t gain commercial success. Later in 1799, another English potter, Josiah Spode, led the development of this new way of making china. He created the most durable porcelain of his time that put him in pottery history. It gained much praise for its quality and became the standard English porcelain from the 1800’s.

Real bone china is almost snow white, unlike the greyish hues characteristic of other types of china. Also,when you hold a piece of china in the light, you should be able to somehow see your hand through it. Most china pieces today are bone china; but instead of using real animal bones, the pure form of the essential substance in the bones is used, which is calcium carbonate. Bone china lasts through generations and can be passed on as heirlooms.

There are simple ways to make your china collection last. One is to avoid using harsh detergents, as these can harm the colors of the piece, especially if they have gold edgings. It is recommended that china wares be washed carefully by hand. Another is to avoid placing the pieces directly against each other as they could scratch each other. Placing table cloths or tissues between pieces and never stacking them too high should prevent damages.When holding bone china plates or platters, be sure to handle them carefully by supporting them from underneath.

If you are using wire plate hangers, be sure that they are plastic coated (although wire hangers are not advisable since they can put a strain on your bone china pieces which could lead to a higher risk of chipping). You should also avoid hanging china cups by their handles because they could easily be in harm’s way. Bone china pieces should be placed in a safe, stable place that should prevent them from getting moved in any way that could increase the risk of damage like jiggling. Lastly, never put your bone china ware in a microwave. Make no bones about using your pieces though, because they say bone china pottery is really made to be enjoyed. And they also say that nothing beats tea or coffee from a bone china cup.

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Tips To Consider Before Buying Pottery

Buying beautiful handmade pottery pieces is a favorite hobby for many. Pottery is gorgeous and some of it is even collectible. If you have little to no experience with buying pottery, there are a few simple tips that can help.

One of the best tips on buying pottery is to shop at respectable stores. This may sound a bit obvious, but it is a lot more challenging when you go to antique stores and flea markets. You really need to know what you are looking for in these places and if not you may have some trouble.

Other tips on buying pottery include to look at the bottom of a piece of pottery before buying it. This helps you see when the piece was made and who made it. This is how you generally tell whether a piece is antique or not. You need to be able to tell the value of a piece to ensure you are getting your money’s worth, especially if you are looking for antique pottery pieces in particular. Antique pottery masks and other pieces can be harder to determine when buying because they are often oddly shaped and in some cases there is no marking at all.

Shopping for dinnerware is typically the easiest. When buying plates, bowls, cups and other pieces of pottery dinnerware you should find there is a huge selection. Keep in mind other tips on buying pottery, such as looking for other features, such as crazing. This is a crackling effect in the glaze that gives a nice effect. This typically makes pieces more valuable and it is not always found in regular dinnerware.

Tips on buying pottery always include that besides distinct markings there are also other markings you may want to watch for. Some of the most famous pottery artists used strange markings, some that you may not even notice at first, to mark their pieces. Keep in mind that these marks are not always located on the bottom. Some markings are actually integrated into the design so you may have to look hard for them.

The best idea if you are shopping for pottery and are not sure what to look for, is to head online. You can find lots of informative tips on buying pottery here. There are glossaries and indexes available on the Internet that would be very helpful here. This information is usually free and is available at just the click of a button.

Buying pottery can be overwhelming at first, but with a bit of information and some practice on your part, you will become experienced and familiar with it. Then buying pottery can be more of a joy than a chore.

Telling China Pottery Antiques From the Fake Ones

China pottery is absolutely special. Each small bowl which belongs to antique periods has a complete history full of wars, conflicts, civilizations inside. But today people for their own interest produce fake pottery claiming it is antique and this pottery is sold for skyrocketing prices. That’s not fair at all! You shouldn’t ever be these people’s client, so let me show you how to distinguish authentic antiques from the fake ones.

First of all, try to find some Chinese letters anywhere. If they were painted in blue, that means it’s old, while the red letters say the pottery is probably new. If you notice the “Made In China” marking, that’s one hundred percent a fake. Also, if you are purchasing a portrait made of pottery soil, make sure to notice the details. Old Chinese always took some extra time to create small, tiny details on their art. If the portrait seems very simple, then it’s probably a fake. Chinese ancient people mostly created sugar holders, small bowls, vases, tea cups, so these are the most probable to be ancient. People, faces, bodies, clothes are also very common. These are the main ways to tell an antique from a fake. However, you will never be sure if you are purchasing a real antique unless you take it so experts.

China pottery can be pretty expensive. You can even find sometimes on the market some “antiques” whose cost ranges from a few thousands to lots of them. That’s why it’s so essential to always have a history expert with you when purchasing an antique. However, if that is not possible, all you have to do is do the things which I previously mentioned, such as finding Chinese letters, taking a look at their color and so on, and then you will have smaller chances of being cheated. Wishing you the best luck!

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For more info on China pottery, visit: http://www.chinapottery.org

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Want to find out more about pottery, then visit this web site on how to choose the best collectible and antique pottery before you make your purchase http://www.hclglass.com

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