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March 3rd, 2008 by Just Glass Oline Staff

Bone china is a sort of porcelain that was first made in Great Britain when calcined oxen bone was mixed with the other ingredients and fired once at a higher temperature to give it the translucence and then at a lower temperature during which firing it is glazed.

The major characteristics which are desirable in bone china are the very high level of whiteness, the translucency and its high strength in comparison to its thickness.

In the beginning the manufacturers of porcelain were hoping to find porcelain that would be of the same quality that was being imported from China and could not, so they attempted several different routes to gain it.

The first time that bone was used to make the china has been attributed to Thomas Frye, a porcelain maker in the mid 1700’s. In 1748 at his china works factory, Bow China World, Frye made a type of soft paste porcelain.

In the latter part of the 18th century, Josiah Spode developed it further, adding china, clay and stone to try to compete with the Chinese porcelain.

Today’s bone china will contain at least one quarter bone ash, which adds the high whiteness and strength and also makes the piece translucent. This makes the china not clean but transparent enough to see light through the pieces.

Most Bone China is made by a particular company, such as Royal Doulton or Royal Albert for example, and will have a trademark that can be found on each piece in the set.

Antique China will for the most part also have trademarks or brand marks which can be researched to show what company made your china and when it was made.

If you hold up a piece of bone china to light and place your hand behind it, you should be able to see your fingers through it.

It also has a clear crystal light ring to it if you flick the edge of the piece with your finger. In this way you can know that the piece you are purchasing is actually bone china.

Bone china is a great deal stronger than it appears, however you should still take care when handling and moving the dishes.

Some newer items will be marked dishwasher safe, however hand washing is always preferable.