Quick Guide
· The three principal types are hard-paste, soft-paste and bone china.
· Hard-paste porcelain originated in China; Meissen began production in 1710.
· Bone china incorporates bone ash in its ceramic body.
· Body texture, decoration and factory marks help identify antique porcelain.
For centuries, porcelain has been used to craft decorative works and tableware around the world. Developed in China, it is prized for its white body, translucency and finely modeled detail. The three principal types of porcelain are hard-paste, soft-paste and bone china, each distinguished by its ingredients and method of production.
What is porcelain made of?
Porcelain’s composition varies by type. Traditional Chinese hard-paste porcelain combines kaolin, a fine white clay, with porcelain stone. High-temperature firing fuses these materials into a hard, glassy body. European manufacturers developed alternative recipes in their attempts to reproduce Chinese porcelain, while bone china incorporates bone ash.
What are the types of porcelain?
Porcelain can be divided into three different types, each of which requires a unique crafting process. The earliest form was hard-paste, followed by soft-paste and later bone china.
Hard-Paste Porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain originated in China. Its composition and high firing temperature produce a dense, strong body that can be translucent in thin sections. European makers sought to reproduce these qualities for centuries before the establishment of the Meissen manufactory in 1710.
Chinese Blue & White Floral Porcelain Teacup. Circa 17th century. M.S. Rau.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907) important ceramic advancements were made, particularly the use of sancai (tri-colored) earthenware as well as pure white porcelain, only made possible through centuries of refinement in technique. While the most elaborate and detailed pottery pieces were kept for burials in order to accompany the deceased into their afterlife, everyday wares began to spread via the Silk Road across Central Asia.
The teacup above dates to a later period but shows the blue and white style that became popular during the Yuan dynasty. Chinese porcelain reached Europe in the fourteenth century and later inspired European experiments with soft-paste porcelain.
Soft-Paste Porcelain
The beautiful forms of Chinese porcelain were considered a great, rare luxury by Europeans, who also sought to create their own versions of the durable ceramic. However, duplicating the transparency and strength of Chinese ceramics appeared to be an impossible task.
Without the knowledge of the correct mixture of materials (in particular, access to kaolin) or the higher temperatures required to solidify the porcelain, the resulting European attempts lacked either the strength or beauty of hard-paste porcelain. Some artists created beautiful soft-paste works that lacked durability, while others created strong, solid pieces missing the delicate features that distinguish porcelain as an art form.
Fine Worcester Wall-Period Bowl. Circa 18th Century. M.S. Rau.
One of the most successful factories producing soft-paste porcelain was the Worcester porcelain factory, established in 1751. Its wares, including the bowl above, drew on Chinese blue and white porcelain. The factory used a formula containing soapstone.
Meissen Porcelain Fall Figural Group. Late 19th Century. M.S. Rau.
Although Meissen began producing hard-paste porcelain in 1710, soft-paste porcelain remained important elsewhere in Europe throughout the eighteenth century. Sèvres became particularly celebrated for its soft-paste wares before abandoning their production in 1804.
For more on factory marks and collecting considerations, read Meissen: The Allure of Continental Porcelain.
Founded at Vincennes in 1740, the manufactory moved to Sèvres in 1756. Louis XV became its sole owner in 1759, establishing the royal patronage closely associated with its history.
King Louis Philippe I Sévres Porcelain Mantel Clock. Dated 1842. M.S. Rau (sold).
The clock above includes porcelain plaques accented by unglazed biscuit porcelain, a finish that reveals the modeling without a glossy glaze.
Bone China
Wedgwood 6-piece Bone China Déjeuner Set. Circa 1875. M.S. Rau (Sold).
Bone china is named for the bone ash in its composition. Bone ash is produced by calcining animal bones, rather than simply grinding them. It is combined with china clay and feldspathic material to form the ceramic body.
Bone china developed from English experiments with bone ash in the eighteenth century. The Bow factory used bone ash in the 1740s, while Josiah Spode developed the formulation associated with modern English bone china in the 1790s.
What is porcelain used for?
Porcelain has served as tableware or decoration in households since ancient times. Due to its impressive durability, many everyday objects from teacups to serving dishes have been crafted of porcelain.
Meissen Porcelain Mirror. Circa 1870. M.S. Rau.
Just because porcelain has been used and treasured for centuries doesn’t mean there isn’t room for innovation within the medium, whether in the types of objects created or unusual color palettes. The colorful, ornate details above are part of a larger mirror and demonstrate the creative possibilities of porcelain.
Is porcelain a type of ceramic?
Yes. Porcelain belongs to the broader ceramic family, which also includes earthenware and stoneware. Its body and firing process distinguish it from these other materials. Translucency can help identify porcelain, but thickness, glaze and decoration affect how much light passes through a piece.
The unglazed body provides another clue, although texture varies between porcelain types. Soft-paste porcelain, for example, can have a granular fracture. Identification should consider the body alongside the decoration and factory marks.
What classifies antique porcelain?
The descriptor “antique” can be a confusing classification when considering the centuries of porcelain production, which continues into the present. What counts as a true antique? For porcelain and many other decorative arts like antique glass, an object over 100 years old can be defined as an antique.
Rust-Red and Gold Nanking Cargo Mug. Circa 1752. M.S. Rau.
Antique porcelain offers insight into the techniques and tastes of its period. Before using historic tableware for food or drink, seek advice on the individual piece’s condition, glaze and any restoration.
Explore M.S. Rau’s antique porcelain, including Meissen porcelain, to compare the forms and decorative techniques discussed here.
Works Cited
Munger, Jeffrey, and Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen. “East and West: Chinese Export Porcelain.” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. October 2003.
Savage, G., Michael Sullivan and Jerome Silbergeld. “Chinese pottery.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. August 24, 2022.
