It is about wedding season soon. If you are in the situation to look for the wedding gifts, bone china always makes on the top wedding gift list. Bone china is considered to be the most refined and luxurious of tableware materials, adding sophisticated classical and contemporary design to any table – whether during breakfast, lunch or dinner. Today, we are going to share the beauty, benefits and the tips on how to take good care of these delicate pieces.
So, the number 1 question : What is bone china and what is bone china made of?
Bone china is a durable, lightweight and elegant material that is most commonly used for the creation of tableware such as plates, bowls, mugs and teacups. Bone china is made from china clay, china stone and bone ash (made from animal bones).
To create bone china, either china clay, china stone, bone ash, or a combination of the three is combined with porcelain clay and fired at a slightly lower temperature than porcelain. This produces a light, delicate material with a milky, almost translucent appearance
Benefits of bone china tableware
Bone china is the strongest material of the porcelain and china ceramics, meaning that it is likely to last through everyday use and the usual accidental slips of the hand or knocks off the table. Bone china is a luxurious and precious material, so will last for decades and can have amazing sentimental value when passed down through generations. It brings a perception of elegance and sophisticated taste to dining at home, making every day a special occasion!
Bone china is also:
- Break-resistant
- Microwave-safe
- Oven-safe
- Dishwasher-safe
For an interesting fact, the durability of bone china is actually based on the percentage of bone ash content present within the product. The traditional formulation for bone china is about 25% kaolin, 25% Cornish stone and 50% bone ash. The industry minimum for bone content is 30% or higher.
Is bone china microwave safe? Yes! In fact, it’s microwave safe, dishwasher safe and oven safe.
How to care for your bone china tableware set
To Wash Your Bone China:
- Wash dishes straight away to remove any acidic or sticky food residue.
- When handwashing, wash each dish individually using a mild liquid detergent and a non-abrasive cloth. Having a plastic tuc in the sink is also a good idea, as it will protect the china from the harsh stainless steel of the sink.
- If using a dishwasher, take care not to overload the rack, and keep metal items away from your fine bone china – even light contact can scratch, chip or crack your dishes.
to keep your bone china in top condition:
The main difference between bone china and fine china is actually the colour, and the different material components that are used to achieve this tonal variation. As we mentioned earlier, bone china is made of ‘bone ash’, which is ash made from animal bones (usually those of a cow) mixed into the ceramic material. Cow bone ash is added into the mixture to give bone china that unique, creamy, soft colour it’s famous for..
- Soak your pieces in white vinegar for three minutes before rinsing and towel drying them to remove hard water spots.
- Remove coffee stains from mugs (as well as fork marks from plates) by rubbing a paste of baking soda and water over the tableware before rinsing and drying.
- o prevent scratching and chipping your fine bone china tableware set, put it in a fabric storage case, or put segments of fabric, tissue paper or napkins between each piece when stacking
The Difference Between Bone China, Fine china And Porcelain?
Fine china on the other hand (which doesn’t include any bone ash) is a starker, whiter tone. It’s easy to see the difference between the two by lifting fine china or bone china up to light; the bone china will be translucent and will let in more light, whereas the fine china will totally block any light coming through.
When it comes to bone china vs porcelain, it’s a similar story. The production of bone china and porcelain is essentially the same, except for the addition of bone ash to the bone china product. Bone ash makes tableware stronger by making it softer, less brittle, and less likely to break than porcelain. Porcelain is generally thicker than bone china products, as it is forged at a higher temperature. Bone china has a more elegant perception at the dining table than porcelain due to its milky texture and stunningly lightweight, delicate feel.
As we all know, not all bone china is created same. We just hand picked some of our favorites here for you:
Wedgwood Gio 16-Piece Set, White
Wedgwood Gio Whiteware 26-Piece Set
Why we love it: We love these creamy and intaglio textured bone china. It has a modern yet sophiticated flair. Both dishwasher and microwave safe, this collection is designed for everyday dining and perfect for tapa style dinner.
Wedgwood Vera Venato 4 Piece Place Setting, White & Grey
Why we love it: This collection is inspired by Vera Wang’s visit to Italian quarries. We love the elegant grey and white marble veins. The collection has an organic and artful form.
Vera Wang Wedgwood Vera Lace Gold 5-Piece Dinnerware Place Setting
Why we love it: Vera lace gold adds certain opulence and grandeur to this dinnerware. The refined pattern weaves together the unique combination of tailored lace bands and delicate florals , which makes this collection a perfect wedding gift.
Vera Wang by Wedgwood Blanc Sur Blanc Five-Piece Place Setting
Why we love it: We love how Vera combines different whites to provide depth, dimension and texture to create fine bone china characterized by sleek, elegant sophistication.
Wedgwood Vera Wang Vera Modern 5-Piece Place Setting
Why we love it: The Vera Modern has a sophiticated classical vibe yet updated for today’s bride with a geometric eyelet pattern evolving the fastidious workmanship of Vera Wang bridal couture.
Wedgwood Vera Wang with Love 5-Piece Place Setting
Why we love it:The Vera Love has a sophiticated classical vibe yet updated for today’s bride with a geometric eyelet pattern evolving the fastidious workmanship of Vera Wang bridal couture.
Happy Monday
