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Porcelain or Travertine: What Is the Right Tile for You?

Hard-paste porcelain pottery originated from a compound of a feldspathic rock known as "petunse" and kaolin fired at an extremely high temperature. The term 'hard paste' historically refers to the Asian porcelains that had been made from the two mentioned materials. Up until the early 1700's, its process of manufacture had been kept a secret, and it was Johann Friedrich Böttger of Germany who discovered this secret and brought it over to Europe. Though there had been numerous attempts to keep this limogesboutique.coma secret, it did not take long for it to spread to other German ceramic factories, as well as other parts of the continent.

The word "porcelain" can be traced to the term "porcella," an Italian term used to describe the name for cowrie shells. It was acquainted with the term because porcelain had the same shiny white qualities as these natural raw materials. "Soft-paste" back then referred to works produced from materials with glass-like characteristics, but this was before Böttger discovered the means for producing "hard-paste" porcelain with a more European touch.

Since the discovery of Bottger and the achievement of a European formula for hard-paste porcelain pottery, a number of different innovations have risen in terms of decorative techniques. Some examples include painting with a wider array of colors, as well as gilding, and so forth. However, despite these innovations, the size of teapots remained close to only five to nine inches tall, perhaps due to the high costs of producing the tea that is made in them. Porcelain itself was quite costly, and only the rich and influential could afford to start up factories that could produce these luxurious items. The first workshop to be located outside of Meissen was the Du Paquier establishment in Vienna; the next factories sprung up in places like Venice and Berlin. These factories manufactured grandiose porcelain teapots with such elaborate detail. Despite it all, widespread porcelain production did not occur until the late 18th century.

Nowadays, hard-paste porcelain pottery, now more commonly known as hard porcelain, refers to the different formulations prepared from the firing temperature that is used to make the porcelain. The temperature used on hard-paste porcelain pottery goes as high as combinations of kaolin, feldspar and quartz. Though these three may be the primary ingredients, other raw materials may be added as well, such as pottery stones, which were originally known as "petunse". Hard-paste porcelain pottery may also resemble certain stoneware or earthenware, depending on which raw materials and firing methods are used. Hard-paste porcelain pottery can also be developed to create porcelain bisque, a white ceramic known for its translucent and bright nature. With its body being virtually impenetrable by liquids, it is considered unnecessary to glaze its body.
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