How is bone china produced?
Chinese soft-paste porcelain has been produced since the 16th century, but Englishman Josiah Spode produced the first bone china piece about 1800. Modern bone china production uses similar practices developed by the early manufacturers.Bone China DefinedBone china is a term used to describe translucent porcelain china manufactured using bone ash (calcium phosphate) as an additive to the clay to make the pieces more durable.Clay MixtureMachines mix approximately 50 percent bone ash with clay, stone and secret company ingredients, including flint, feldspar and quartz, to form a hard-porcelain paste for china manufacture.The SlipLiquid is mixed with the clay to produce a thick slip that is then poured into shape molds. After drying for several days, the clay item is removed from the mold.FiringThe molded clay is then fired at high temperatures ranging from 1000 to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type of kiln oven used and the clay mixture. After the firing, the pieces slowl