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.
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.
All china is made up of clay. Often, more than one type of clay is used to make up a piece. In the case of bone china, an additional ingredient is added. Bones are ground very finely and the resulting dust is added into the clay mix. It adds strength but it also causes the pieces to be brittle and easy to break. If you want to make sure you are buying authentic bone china you need to look for between 30 and 45 percent bone dust.
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.
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.
All china is made up of clay. Often, more than one type of clay is used to make up a piece. In the case of bone china, an additional ingredient is added. Bones are ground very finely and the resulting dust is added into the clay mix. It adds strength but it also causes the pieces to be brittle and easy to break. If you want to make sure you are buying authentic bone china you need to look for between 30 and 45 percent bone dust.
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.
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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