My niece Sue brought up a subject the other night that I hadn\u2019t given much (make that any) thought about. She wondered why a lot of dinnerware, that a lot of people refer to as china, is made in Japan or some other country. Time for some extensive research\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I immediately ran across an article that said that in 1890, President McKinley instituted a tariff requiring imports to show the country of origin. Dishes from China were marked CHINA, which is why Americans came to call all dishes \u201cchina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But \u2014 that\u2019s not true. Americans don\u2019t refer to their dishes as \u201cchina\u201d because it says China on the back. According to historians, the term became shorthand among early American settlers because a lot of those dishes originated in China or was made in England to approximate Chinese wares \u2014 not because pieces were stamped CHINA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s the difference in \u201cChina\u201d and \u201cDinnerware?\u201d\u00a0
China is crockery made from clay, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz. That combination is then fired up in a kiln to create intricate, beautiful crockery designs.Usually the term China is used generically to describe high-quality dishes reserved for use during special occasions.\u00a0
Dinnerware is a broad definition of plates, dishes, serving bowls, platters, etc., used for serving and eating meals. Because it\u2019s definition is so broad, dinnerware often includes China as a subset.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China doesn\u2019t just refer to fancy dishes. There are different types of China dishes \u2014 each with their own distinct qualities and features.
For instance, Fine China is made from fine-particle clay combined with feldspar, kaolin, and quartz, fired up at high temperatures in a kiln. This makes it extremely durable and nonporous. This procedure allows the dishes to be more delicately constructed with a heavier body and a smooth, white, lustrous appearance. It also allows shaped details to be incorporated into the body\u2019s design.
Bone China is made from feldspar, ball clay, quartz, kaolin, and bone ash from farm animals, ground into a fine powder or ash. The mixture is then heated at a lower temperature than fine china. The technique results in a lightweight and delicate feeling with a translucent milky appearance. Bone China looks and feels more fragile, but it\u2019s the strongest and most durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m sure there\u2019s much more to be learned about this subject, but honestly, I think I\u2019ve learned enough. What I eat off of really isn\u2019 that important to me. If you want to call all nice dishes china, I\u2019m good with that \u2014 you can even call it fine china if that makes you feel better\u2026. or if it\u2019s porcelain you can call them porcelain or even fine porcelain. I think I\u2019ll just stick with a term I know\u2014 even if they\u2019re ridiculously overpriced \u2014 dishes.
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My niece Sue brought up a subject the other night that I hadn\u2019t given much (make that any) thought about. She wondered why a lot of dinnerware, that a lot of people refer to as china, is made in Japan … Continue reading