Fine bone china is a beautiful and functional way to decorate your table. If you own fine English bone china tea sets or are thinking about purchasing one of these sets, it is a good idea to know how to care for them properly. Here is what you need to know to keep any set looking as beautiful as possible for as long as possible.
If you are thinking about purchasing a set, it can be helpful to know what bone china actually is. It is related to both porcelain and fine china and all three materials tend to look very similar. Bone china has bone dust (usually from a cow) mixed in with the clay before it is shaped and fired. It is softer than porcelain.
If the set you are looking for does not have at least 30% bone dust, it cannot be considered to be fine English bone china. Some sets actually have up to 45% bone dust contained in the clay. Unlike other types of clay pieces, these look warm and are actually thin and translucent enough that you can see light through them. Many have delicate handles or accents that can be fragile if not properly handled.
Although it is durable, it can be damaged. Handles can break off easily and edges can be chipped. Some sets will develop a network of cracks in the finish. While this may or may not affect how functional the piece is, it can affect the value.
If you are caring for your set properly, there are two times when you have to be more concerned about damage. You will want to be cautious when you are cleaning your set and also when you are putting it into storage for any amount of time. It is at each of these times that damage can occur. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a favorite piece of your set get a chip or fracture.
If you are cleaning your set, it is a good idea to do so by hand. This is especially true if the set has metal accents on any part of the pieces. This is because the heat of a dishwasher can soften the metal and cause it to come off if it is not allowed to cool. You also want to make sure that the handles are not hit or struck during cleaning as they can break.
When storing your piece, how you protect it will depend on how long you are storing it. If you are simply putting it into a china cabinet between uses, you can simply put padding between cups and saucers. Make sure larger pieces are stored with enough space that their handles will not bang into one another. Be careful when stacking tea cups as you do not want the handles to be stressed as this can lead to breakage.
Taking the time to clean your set and store it properly can mean that you end up with a set that is free of chips and breaks. If properly cared for, a good set can turn into an heirloom that can be passed down over many generations.
If you are thinking about purchasing a set, it can be helpful to know what bone china actually is. It is related to both porcelain and fine china and all three materials tend to look very similar. Bone china has bone dust (usually from a cow) mixed in with the clay before it is shaped and fired. It is softer than porcelain.
If the set you are looking for does not have at least 30% bone dust, it cannot be considered to be fine English bone china. Some sets actually have up to 45% bone dust contained in the clay. Unlike other types of clay pieces, these look warm and are actually thin and translucent enough that you can see light through them. Many have delicate handles or accents that can be fragile if not properly handled.
Although it is durable, it can be damaged. Handles can break off easily and edges can be chipped. Some sets will develop a network of cracks in the finish. While this may or may not affect how functional the piece is, it can affect the value.
If you are caring for your set properly, there are two times when you have to be more concerned about damage. You will want to be cautious when you are cleaning your set and also when you are putting it into storage for any amount of time. It is at each of these times that damage can occur. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a favorite piece of your set get a chip or fracture.
If you are cleaning your set, it is a good idea to do so by hand. This is especially true if the set has metal accents on any part of the pieces. This is because the heat of a dishwasher can soften the metal and cause it to come off if it is not allowed to cool. You also want to make sure that the handles are not hit or struck during cleaning as they can break.
When storing your piece, how you protect it will depend on how long you are storing it. If you are simply putting it into a china cabinet between uses, you can simply put padding between cups and saucers. Make sure larger pieces are stored with enough space that their handles will not bang into one another. Be careful when stacking tea cups as you do not want the handles to be stressed as this can lead to breakage.
Taking the time to clean your set and store it properly can mean that you end up with a set that is free of chips and breaks. If properly cared for, a good set can turn into an heirloom that can be passed down over many generations.
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