Porcelain originally comes from China. The first finds of porcelain-like materials date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). However, the actual development of real porcelain as it is known today can be dated back to the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD).

The art of Chinese porcelain reached its peak during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Because of its fine texture and elegant appearance, porcelain was a coveted export commodity and was shipped all over the world, especially to Europe.

The term ‘porcelain’ itself stems from the Italian word ‘porcellana’, which originally referred to a certain type of shell that was reminiscent of the smooth, shiny surface of porcelain. When the first porcelain goods arrived in Europe in the 16th century, they were considered extremely valuable and were referred to as ‘white gold’.

1. The mixture of raw materials: Kaolin, quartz and feldspar are mixed to form a homogeneous mass.

2. Moulding: The porcelain mass is brought into the desired shape, either by casting in moulds or by turning on the potter's wheel.

3. Drying: The moulded pieces must dry slowly and evenly to avoid cracks.

5. Glazing: After the first firing, the pieces are coated with a glaze that gives the porcelain its glossy appearance.

6. Second firing (glost firing): The glazed pieces are fired again at temperatures between 1200 and 1400 °C. At these high temperatures, the glaze and the porcelain paste blend together, giving the porcelain its final hardness and translucency.

Ceramics originated in the Palaeolithic period, around 25,000 years ago, when early humans moulded the first clay vessels and hardened them by firing. The technique spread to Egypt, Greece and Rome in ancient times.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the art of ceramics reached new heights in Europe, with important centres such as Delft and Limoges producing fine porcelain and Faience. The invention of porcelain in China in the 7th century had a significant impact on European ceramic production and led to the development of European porcelain in the 18th century.

Ceramic and porcelain developed as distinct types of earthenware from early clay processing techniques. Ceramics emerged in ancient times, particularly in the Mediterranean region, and due to a low firing temperature, remains porous. Porcelain, on the other hand, was produced in China as early as 1,000 BC and later spread to Europe in the Middle Ages. It is characterised by a higher firing temperature, which makes the material hard, dense and watertight.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a particularly high-quality type of earthenware that belongs to the sintered earthenware group. It is made from special clays with a high aluminium oxide and iron oxide content. When fired at extremely high temperatures of 1,200 to 1,300 °C, the material becomes denser – this process is called sintering. This produces what is known as a body: the fired, unglazed base material that is created from moulded clay during the firing process. Sintering makes the body dense, hard and impermeable to water – even without glaze. This makes porcelain particularly robust, durable and ovenproof, which is ideal for tableware, baking tins and other ceramic household products.

1. The preparation of raw materials: The most important raw material for ceramics is clay. Clay is extracted from natural clay deposits, which are cleaned and ground to remove impurities.

Depending on the desired end product, other materials can also be added to the clay, such as sand or feldspar.

2. Moulding: The prepared clay mixture is brought into the desired shape. This can be done by turning on a potter's wheel, pouring into moulds or by manual shaping. This results in blanks that have not yet been fired.

3. Drying: The moulded blanks are dried to remove excess moisture. This is a critical step, as insufficient drying of the material can favour the formation of cracks in the ceramic during the firing process

5. Painting ceramics: After the first firing, the raw pieces can be painted before the glaze is applied. The painting is often done with special ceramic paints that do not fade or peel off after the glazing firing. These paints are often applied in multiple layers to achieve complex designs or decorations.

6. Glazing: The glaze is a glass-like coating that gives the ceramic colour and shine and makes it waterproof. Glazes consist of a mixture of silicates and other chemical compounds and are applied to the ceramic before the pieces are fired a second time.

Fine Bone China is characterised by a high proportion of bovine bone ash, which results in a cream-coloured, delicately translucent body.

New Bone China offers a vegan alternative with similar properties, but without animal ingredients.

Our Cha Cult^® brand, which appears on many of our product packaging and as a floor mark, has become a symbol of both success and quality. We offer many innovative designs in the categories of porcelain, ceramics, bone china, and more.

Many of our items are available in an attractive Cha Cult^® gift box, which serves as an appealing retail packaging and highlights the unique character of our Cha Cult^® products. The packaging design is carefully tailored to match the look of the respective product. This makes our Cha Cult^® items a real eye-catcher in your store, giving them an exclusive touch.