Bone China is a type of porcelain invented by Westerners.

The Cambridge History of China describes the invention of bone China as follows:

Ancient Chinese ceramics are highly valued in the West, and their export history can be traced back to two thousand years ago. In Europe, the work of imitation ceramics has never been interrupted, but the real breakthrough is due to the development of the Venetian glass industry.

As we all know, ceramics are composed of three parts: the enamel layer, the bonding layer and the inner clay layer. One of the most difficult to replicate is the enamel layer. Lead glass was invented by the Venetians in the 15th century, and since then a large number of attempts have been made in this field, and it has been found that the enamel layer of ceramics has a certain resemblance to glass.

Around the 17th century, thin fetal porcelain from Jingdezhen, China, was introduced to Europe. It was such an astonishing invention that the Chinese history book Tao Ji describes it as "as thin as paper, as white as jade, as clear as a mirror, and as loud as chime." The European saying is, "Thinner than paper, whiter than milk, more transparent than glass."

This porcelain is of great value in Europe. A piece of China can even buy an army. What's more amazing is that this porcelain can even be made into lamps, but it has a more fantastic effect than glass lamps.

In 1794, British inventor William Waltson added animal bone meal to clay to make it more transparent than glass. Bone powder can obtain calcium oxide after high temperature, which is a very mature technique in the glass process.

Today's technology tells us that calcium oxide is one of the most important fluxes in glass manufacturing, which can effectively reduce the softening temperature of silicon dioxide and make it easier to form glass-like substances. Alumina is a commonly used opacifying agent, which can even make glass appear less transparent milky white.

Soon a European ceramic of its own was invented. Although until today it is difficult to reach the thickness of thin fetal porcelain 1mm-2mm or so, and the tone is slightly red, can not really achieve high white color, but this is the Western invention of porcelain, its emergence is revolutionary. Because a large amount of animal Bone meal is added to this ceramic in the firing, it is called "Bone china", that is, bone China.

Today's bone China has been modified many times, the basic formula is six parts ashes and four parts porcelain stone, but gradually developed into 50 parts ashes, 25 parts porcelain stone and 25 parts clay, and is still considered the standard formula in the UK today.

Bone China home decoration

As with the standard of artificial crystal, according to international standards, ceramics containing more than 25% calcium oxide can be called bone China.

Since it was founded in the United Kingdom, and the yield of bone China in the early period is very low, it has long been the special porcelain of the British royal family and is highly respected. Due to the needs of industrialization and the development of science and technology, people no longer put animal bone meal, but use a composite formula of calcium oxide and alumina, so that bone China can be owned by more people. However, a very small number of high-grade bone China production, still part of the use of bone meal and other raw materials, the value is generally hundreds of pounds or more.

Observe the bone China in a bright place, and the bone China products with fine composition and light transmission without impurities are preferred. Bone China, like ceramics, is graded, usually depending on the material's texture, manufacturing techniques, and painted design. The higher the grade of bone China, the more difficult it is to make, and the more expensive the finished product.