Porcelain, Ceramics, Bone China

The production of high-quality ceramic and porcelain items requires careful planning, innovative technologies and skilful craftsmanship. As an experienced supplier to the specialised trade, we place particular emphasis on quality and exclusive designs that set our products apart from mass-produced goods. On this page, we introduce these popular materials and give you an insight into the production of our porcelain, ceramics, and bone china products:


Porcelain

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’.


The Porcelain Production

The production of porcelain is a complex and elaborate process. There are two main types of porcelain: hard porcelain and soft porcelain. The raw material for both types is made from a mixture of kaolin (a special white clay), feldspar and quartz. Kaolin gives the porcelain its white colour and plasticity, while quartz and feldspar are responsible for its density and solidity. The individual production steps are:

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.

4. First firing (bisquit firing): After drying, the porcelain pieces are fired at around 900 to 1000 °C to reduce porosity and harden the piece.

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.

7. Decoration: After the glost firing, the porcelain can be painted or decorated with patterns. Gold or platinum is used for particularly precious pieces. A final firing takes place after decoration to fix the colours.


Ceramics

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.


The Ceramic Production

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

4. Firing: The first firing, also known as ‘sintering firing’, takes place in a kiln at temperatures of around 800 to 1,000 °C. This hardens the clay and makes it water-resistant. After the first firing, the pieces can be glazed.

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.

7. Second firing: In the second firing, which usually takes place at higher temperatures between 1,000 and 1,300 degrees Celsius, the glaze melts and solidifies into a solid layer on the ceramic. This process is known as ‘glaze firing’.


Bone China and New Bone China

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.


Porzellan, Keramik, Bone China von Cha Cult®

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.


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