A Guide to Bone China


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.
If you're in the market for purchasing bone china tableware, the Wedgwood Guide to Bone China will answer some common questions regarding this beautiful material, as well as providing guidance on how to choose and care for your bone china tableware.


Bone china is a durable, lightweight and elegant material that is most commonly used for the creation of tableware and teaware 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.


Investing in bone china tableware comes with many benefits for your at-home eating experience. 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 considered to be the highest quality ceramic used for tableware, and is perfect for both everyday use and special occasions due to the fact that it’s strong, durable, mostly chip-resistant, and stunningly beautiful.


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.


Here are some tips for washing your tableware set:


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.


Here are some tips for keeping your Wedgwood china in stunning condition:


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.


To 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.


What Exactly is Bone China?


There's something quite elegant and magical about drinking a cup of tea from real bone china.


This popular British belief is apparently true, bone china does make the tea taste better and there are many reasons for this. Bone china doesn’t absorb any of the tea aromas and flavours like other ceramics do and therefore providing a full-on tea tasting experience. The thinner and lighter bone china material adds a very dainty and classy feel. While the creamy-white translucent colour of the china perfectly compliments the hue of tea liquor.


However, because of the possible unethical practices of using bone ash in bone china, some companies are choosing to add jade as an alternative.


Real bone china should not contain any lead, is non toxic and is safe to use. Bone china is made from porcelain, bone ash and kaolin (a type of clay).


Bone china is usually made from cow bones. Just as the name suggests, bone china contains animals parts and is not for everyone. It’s rare, however, some china has been found to contain human bone ash! In the past, a loved one’s ashes could be added to china for a keepsake.


What is a Promotional Bone China Mug?


In the ceramic family, there are quite a number of categories. Each as important, if not better than the last creation. Some of the popular categories include stoneware, pottery, earthenware as well as bone china. Presently, bone china mugs are part of the most sought after collectables. Although still manufactured in bulk and available for daily use, bone china can be beautiful and fragile, befitting use as a decorative piece. Bone china creations are readily available in an array of versatile, befitting designs that are ready for consumer selection.


Since bone china mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, they are an excellent for hosting and home use. They can actually be used in bulk and stocked on top of each other to be washed or used at a later date, without the fear of breaking. This feature makes the bone mug wonderfully practical and a joy to have in the home.


Since bone china mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, they are an excellent for hosting and home use. They can actually be used in bulk and stocked on top of each other to be washed or used at a later date, without the fear of breaking. This feature makes the bone mug wonderfully practical and a joy to have in the home.


In the market, there is a wide selection to pick and choose from. There are contemporary and classic bone china designs that come with every imaginable design from wavy patterns to abstract art. Made out of a soft combination of kaolin (25%), bone ash, (50%) and feldspathic material (25%), bone china is a soft-paste kind of porcelain. Given that is contains calculated calcium phosphate as well as a significant percentage of animal bone in the form of phosphate, bone china is one of the strongest porcelains ever invented. Similar to stoneware, bone china is made up of different mineral items. Hence it tends to be vitrified as a result of these highly different mineral properties. Bone china is produced in the same likeness as porcelain. One of the unique qualities behind bone china mugs is the fact that bone ash is actually taken from cattle bones that are vetoed for the lowest quantities of iron. Prior to undergoing de-gelatinisation, the cattle bones are crushed and then calcined at temperatures of up to 1250°C. Such high temperatures burn everything and result in bone ash.


The benefits of using porcelain tableware


For millions of years, porcelains have been used to create decorative kitchenware.


In the ceramics family, porcelain is the supreme material. Porcelain was first invented in China and has informally come to be known as “china” or “fine china”.


The finer the china, the more expensive the product becomes. The properties of porcelain such as strength, elasticity, permeability and translucency has made porcelain a very durable kitchenware and a complete value of money. Other than these, they are also popular and a good choice to make because of the following reasons:


Related: Differences Between Stoneware, Earthenware, And Porcelain


1. Heat Resistant


Porcelain is an excellent and very practical material for microwave or oven dishes because it distributes the heat through the elements evenly. The heat resistant nature of porcelain can be proven by it being fired at very high temperature during its creation. Porcelain is suitable for use in ovens, microwaves and freezers.


2. Durable


Despite its fragile appearance, Porcelain is one of the strongest and most durable dinnerwares you should consider getting. Dinnerware made of Porcelain is durable and nonporous due to it being fired at a very high temperature during its creation.


3. Non-Stick & Easy To Clean


Due to its fine smooth glassy texture, porcelain provides users with ease during plating and cleaning after dinner. With just water and dish soap you can get grease stains off instantly.


4. Versatile


Porcelain tableware come in different colours, shapes and sizes. Making it suitable for any events and occasions. You can experiment and play around with different colours and see how it matches the theme of the meal.


5. Huge Selection Options & Affordable


Porcelain tableware is a great buy as comes in different variations of colours, shapes and sizes. Porcelain allows you to get a bang for your buck with the ability to explore different dining styles with a limited budget. You can aim for a classy style or maybe get some colours on your dining table.


Give your kitchen a makeover by using porcelain kitchen wares that not only give you a visually pleasing appearance but also these numerous benefits that we have talked about.


What are the differences between porcelain and stoneware?


When it comes to choosing the best material for your dinnerware, bakeware and cookware, the choices offered in the market are multiple. There is all the family of ceramics (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and bone china) but also glass, melamine or plastic.


To answer the question, we will focus on only the ceramic made dinnerware. To understand the pros and cons of each material, we will study each one of them and gather key things to know about each material so we can understand the differences between porcelain and stoneware and bone china.When it comes to choosing the best material for your dinnerware, bakeware and cookware, the choices offered in the market are multiple. There is all the family of ceramics (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and bone china) but also glass, melamine or plastic.


To answer the question, we will focus on only the ceramic made dinnerware. To understand the pros and cons of each material, we will study each one of them and gather key things to know about each material so we can understand the differences between porcelain and stoneware and bone china.



Stoneware vs Porcelain when it comes to baking


Avoid using bone chine for warming: when it comes to heating and baking, the choice is really only between Stoneware and Porcelain.


A few facts:


Heating and cooking: as a general rule, avoid the sudden temperature changes (from the fridge, to the oven, to the dishwasher). Both stoneware and porcelain should not be placed on direct heat EXCEPT the range of cookware by REVOL: REVOLUTION (also compatible on induction and electric heat). Both stoneware and porcelain can be used in the microwave.


Cleaning: usually both materials are dishwasher safe


Baking: porcelain being non porous – porcelain dishes are a great options to bake! The heat distributes evenly and the baking will be perfect. Also, glazed porcelain is naturally non stick. So you will enjoy baking with a baker made of porcelain. Like for the Belle cuisine collection: these bakers will bake anything evenly and will make every recipe delicious and easy to make.