For someone who loves tea or who wants to set a beautiful table, a china tea set can be just what they need to make their table look complete. If you are someone like this, fine English bone china tea sets are easy to find and are surprisingly easy to care for as well. Here is what you need to know if you are in the market for one of these sets.
If you are thinking about purchasing a set, it can be helpful to know what bone china actually is. It is related to both porcelain and fine china and all three materials tend to look very similar. Bone china has bone dust (usually from a cow) mixed in with the clay before it is shaped and fired. It is softer than porcelain.
If the set you are looking for does not have at least 30% bone dust, it cannot be considered to be fine English bone china. Some sets actually have up to 45% bone dust contained in the clay. Unlike other types of clay pieces, these look warm and are actually thin and translucent enough that you can see light through them. Many have delicate handles or accents that can be fragile if not properly handled.
While it has a hard surface, the fact is that bone china can be broken. It does not bend well and this makes it brittle. You may also find that older sets develop cracks in the finish. Some can be seen by looking at a piece while others need to be held up to the light in order to see damage. If you love a piece and simply want it to use rather than to collect, these cracks should not cause you any concern.
If you are caring for your set properly, there are two times when you have to be more concerned about damage. You will want to be cautious when you are cleaning your set and also when you are putting it into storage for any amount of time. It is at each of these times that damage can occur. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a favorite piece of your set get a chip or fracture.
When cleaning a set, it can be tempting to use the dishwasher but this may not be the best idea. Remember that the water is very hot and the detergent used in a dishwasher is very strong. If your items have metal accents, the heat from the water can soften the metal and cause it to wear off much more quickly than it would otherwise do.
Storage may seem intimidating at first but it is actually fairly straightforward. Avoid stacking items with handles. If you must, make sure the handles are not contacting one another. Do not hang cups from hooks as this can cause them to break off. Space items properly so that they do not bang into one another as this can cause chips.
Taking the time to clean your set and store it properly can mean that you end up with a set that is free of chips and breaks. If properly cared for, a good set can turn into an heirloom that can be passed down over many generations.
If you are thinking about purchasing a set, it can be helpful to know what bone china actually is. It is related to both porcelain and fine china and all three materials tend to look very similar. Bone china has bone dust (usually from a cow) mixed in with the clay before it is shaped and fired. It is softer than porcelain.
If the set you are looking for does not have at least 30% bone dust, it cannot be considered to be fine English bone china. Some sets actually have up to 45% bone dust contained in the clay. Unlike other types of clay pieces, these look warm and are actually thin and translucent enough that you can see light through them. Many have delicate handles or accents that can be fragile if not properly handled.
While it has a hard surface, the fact is that bone china can be broken. It does not bend well and this makes it brittle. You may also find that older sets develop cracks in the finish. Some can be seen by looking at a piece while others need to be held up to the light in order to see damage. If you love a piece and simply want it to use rather than to collect, these cracks should not cause you any concern.
If you are caring for your set properly, there are two times when you have to be more concerned about damage. You will want to be cautious when you are cleaning your set and also when you are putting it into storage for any amount of time. It is at each of these times that damage can occur. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a favorite piece of your set get a chip or fracture.
When cleaning a set, it can be tempting to use the dishwasher but this may not be the best idea. Remember that the water is very hot and the detergent used in a dishwasher is very strong. If your items have metal accents, the heat from the water can soften the metal and cause it to wear off much more quickly than it would otherwise do.
Storage may seem intimidating at first but it is actually fairly straightforward. Avoid stacking items with handles. If you must, make sure the handles are not contacting one another. Do not hang cups from hooks as this can cause them to break off. Space items properly so that they do not bang into one another as this can cause chips.
Taking the time to clean your set and store it properly can mean that you end up with a set that is free of chips and breaks. If properly cared for, a good set can turn into an heirloom that can be passed down over many generations.
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