Fine bone china is a beautiful and functional way to decorate your table. If you own fine English bone china tea sets or are thinking about purchasing one of these sets, it is a good idea to know how to care for them properly. Here is what you need to know to keep any set looking as beautiful as possible for as long as possible.
There are many different materials on the market that are used to make these items. For many people, it can be confusing when trying to compare fine china, porcelain and bone china. One of the largest differences is the fact that bone china has dust from cow bones mixed into the clay before the piece is created. It also has a softer texture than porcelain although it is still hard and fairly durable.
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.
Most damage comes from repeated stress on areas where handles are joined to the body of pieces. If it is dropped on a hard surface, a china piece can, and usually will, break into multiple pieces. While a handle can be reattached, it can be impossible in some cases to reconstruct the body of a piece. Some items will also develop a network of cracks in the surface.
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.
Hand washing may be time consuming but it doesn't need to be. Rinse items so that liquid does not have a chance to dry on or discolor your items. Wash them carefully and only place an item or two into the sink at a time. Avoid the dishwasher as the harsh detergent can fade colors or even soften metal accents.
When storing your piece, how you protect it will depend on how long you are storing it. If you are simply putting it into a china cabinet between uses, you can simply put padding between cups and saucers. Make sure larger pieces are stored with enough space that their handles will not bang into one another. Be careful when stacking tea cups as you do not want the handles to be stressed as this can lead to breakage.
If you learn how to care for your set properly it can be amazing how durable and functional these items can be. You do not need to be limited to simply bringing it out when you want to serve guests a formal tea. You can also enjoy it for years to come and even hand it down to your children once they are old enough to appreciate it.
There are many different materials on the market that are used to make these items. For many people, it can be confusing when trying to compare fine china, porcelain and bone china. One of the largest differences is the fact that bone china has dust from cow bones mixed into the clay before the piece is created. It also has a softer texture than porcelain although it is still hard and fairly durable.
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.
Most damage comes from repeated stress on areas where handles are joined to the body of pieces. If it is dropped on a hard surface, a china piece can, and usually will, break into multiple pieces. While a handle can be reattached, it can be impossible in some cases to reconstruct the body of a piece. Some items will also develop a network of cracks in the surface.
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.
Hand washing may be time consuming but it doesn't need to be. Rinse items so that liquid does not have a chance to dry on or discolor your items. Wash them carefully and only place an item or two into the sink at a time. Avoid the dishwasher as the harsh detergent can fade colors or even soften metal accents.
When storing your piece, how you protect it will depend on how long you are storing it. If you are simply putting it into a china cabinet between uses, you can simply put padding between cups and saucers. Make sure larger pieces are stored with enough space that their handles will not bang into one another. Be careful when stacking tea cups as you do not want the handles to be stressed as this can lead to breakage.
If you learn how to care for your set properly it can be amazing how durable and functional these items can be. You do not need to be limited to simply bringing it out when you want to serve guests a formal tea. You can also enjoy it for years to come and even hand it down to your children once they are old enough to appreciate it.
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If you are wondering where to buy fine english bone china tea sets, consider using search engines for desired results. Get the latest price list by going to http://englishchinastore.com.
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