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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