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 Porcelain is
the luxury fragile thing created from white clay, quartz and other various
components. No other family collection can do without the delicate china tea
set that highlights the peculiar taste and style of the hostess. Collectors of
the whole world are really hunting rare figurines of animals and flowers, and
pictures of people or myth heroes glazed. Every work of art of the thinnest porcelain
is the unique design and beauty which keeps the particle of soul and skills of
every master.
In spite of
fragility, china has undergone sea changes throughout centuries, epochs
of
rulers and fashion tendencies. The recipe of china production was
invented by the Chinese masterswho lived in early VII century. During
the reign of the Tang dynasty the china tableware wonthe special
popularity for the beauty and access to ordinary people. The china of
jade color and that of the night sky
replaced golden bowls and silver dishes with an ease. Andporcelain
started its travel around the world too quickly.
A huge number of tea and coffee
sets, vases and other various figurines won the hearts of people in
Muslim countries
and then china spread to other continents. With the higher demand to
china
ware, the Chinese craftsmen invented more delicate design and shape for
their
works, more additional colors were added like white and blue with
ornamental
patterns depicting dragons or lotus blooming.
Europe did not pass by the Chinese works of art though the production secret
of such an unusual material was not revealed throughout many centuries. And only
in early XVIII century two entrepreneurial scientists in Saxony
managed to obtain the solution which resembled the subtle Chinese porcelain
after it is burnt. Later on, that porcelain was called European though it was more
rigid and as a result, the flexibility of details and smoothness of ready-made
lines could not be reached as the Chinese did. However, the works were done to
reveal the secret and at the same time new kinds of porcelain were created and
improved known as European white, jasper or red.
In 1708 the
first porcelain manufactures were opened in Dresden. And thirty two years later Russia got fame for its first Imperial China
Factory in Petersburg
that made china ware for members of royal families and higher officials. The
exclusive works of art appeared in family collections made from white and red
china with and without glazing.
Throughout the
XVIII century the china manufactures and studios spread around the world to
produce china ware differed in the technique of production and the unique
design.
First china
items were the bowls for green tea and dishes for rice and fruits. Later on, craftsmen
manufactured gorgeous vases painted in intricate Chinese ornaments and tea sets
for tea ceremonies in Japanese homes. The modern china ware production is
amazing for its diversity. It is able to meet any requirements and tastes to collect
the products of other reputed designers and artists at home.
All amateurs of china ware are aware of the works of Czech and German craftsmen.
Meissen Porcelain Backstamps & Mark, the manufacturers from Germany with
the three hundred history produce expensive hand-made china ware of high
demand. Thecheapest cup is priced for $150 USD.
The style of
Italian craftsmen is too recognizable in the world and their table ware known as
maiolica presented with the pearl luster of the gold, with some rich ruby shine
or sometimes incrusted with the scratched sgraffito pattern, heraldic animals
and floristic elements.
Many French
and Japanese manufactures produce elite china ware. So, Medard De Noblat is
known for its Limoges
porcelain worthy to be with royal families. And the famous bone china by Japonica
is astonishing with its absolute whiteness and unique design.
Use of
china is too popular and sometimes it is surprising that some items can be done
from such a fragile material.
Thus, the Rosenthal
Company from Italy
from the end of the XIX century is involved in manufacture of the fire-place
and table watches with the case wholly done from china painted by the reputed
designers specially invited for this purpose. The price of such masterpieces
sometimes rose to hundredth thousand dollars.
The famous
jeweler of the past, Karl Faberge, used the china cover for most of his works,
including trunks, boxes, various figurines and Easter eggs, surely. Faberge Easter
eggs incrusted with nacre, precious stones and decorated with gold and silver
are deemed as the costly china ware in the world. And this specially refers to
the gift items made for Russian Emperors. So, the egg Lily-of-the-valley from
the collection belonging to Alexandra Fedorovna, the wife to Nikolay II,
resembling the painted pink egg inside the bouquet of May flowers with small
white blossom cluster which absolutely resemble the pearl beads on silver
threads.
Various
figurines and compositions refer to the items to be collected which are
manufactured by the world brands, including amazing china dolls. The statues of
the German Company Vieux Herend and the Italian Porcellane Principe
are known to be highly demanded. The figurines include the images of gracious
girls and noble ladies of baroque epoch, various animals and flowers. The cost
of single item comes to several hundreds thousand dollars, leaving apart
vintage and antique items which are worth to be sold for millions of dollars. As
for porcelain dolls, rare dolls made by French, German and Russian manufactures
in the early XX century are of high demand. The exclusive works of craftsmen which
made and still make dolls with faces resembling their future owners which is
too incredible and amazing. Such works are too costly depending on the complicity
of works and reputation of craftsmen.
No one could
imagine that porcelain can be exceedingly close to people for many years and
still be invisible. And the same happened in one of cities in Uruguay in the
house of the doctor Emilio Pense, when the gold toilet sink was found there.
The expertise showed that the item was the authentic golden toilet sink from 1887
fully made from porcelain coated with Chinese ink. There are only three copies of that item in the world,
including this one.
And this is interesting that the
home dwellers used that sanitary ware for the immediate purpose for the whole
hundred years and who never guesses of the price that was up to million
dollars.
Мariella di
Gregorio, the modern designer from Italy, has come with the idea to revive the
splinters of old luxury china cups, tea pots and dishes. She created the
collection of jewelry based upon the thoroughly gathered painted splinters and
these amazing pendants on golden chain and leather laces, bracelets and
earrings are loved by many today. The splinters are not dangerous to health and
it is impossible to get injured by them since Мariella employed the special technique of
fragile details fastening to metal which is more attractive for jewels.
Porcelain is
the implausible blend of fragility and amazing beauty, tender lavishness and
feeling of holiday.
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