Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

Fine China Information

Fine china is dinnerware that is made of porcelain. Colloquially, however, the term is used as a catch-all to describe all dishes and dinnerware, regardless of quality or how it is created. In addition to true fine chine, there are four other major types of dishware: bone china, earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.

Bone China
- Bone China is a dinnerware material made of clay and bone ash. This makeup creates a white, almost translucent piece of china.
Earthenware
- Purchased both glazed and unglazed, earthenware is the oldest form of dinnerware. Because of a high level of impurities within its makeup, earthenware is extremely fragile.
Fine China
- True fine china is made of porcelain. The better the quality, the more durable the piece will be. Fine china is both microwave and dishwasher safe, unless there is a metallic decoration.
Stoneware
- Stoneware is incredibly durable, typically dishwasher and microwave safe. This is because it is created through the use of high heat.
Porcelain
- Porcelain dinnerware is also dishwasher and microwave safe. Created in a kiln at its highest temperature setting, porcelain resists bacteria growth.

Other Collecting