Luxe

From the Fifteenth Century until the Eighteenth, the race was on to manufacture porcelain in Europe that rivalled the porcelain produced by the Chinese by at least the Ninth Century.  The necessary ingredient was kaolin, a nearly-pure white primary clay, frequently found close to its geological origins. However, the discovery of reduction* (or oxygen-deprived) firing was a key part of the manufacturing process, too. Reduction processes could happen by what potters frequently call a "happy accident" and, in practice, could be controlled simply by repeating all past circumstances of a firing. However, the phenomena were not understood until Lavoisier discovered and clarified oxygen-based chemistry in the Late Eighteenth Century in Paris.

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Porcelain manufacturing was a critical technological and economic development, and the secrets of its manufacture were closely guarded by the individual manufacturers and governments into the nineteenth century. Throughout these centuries of competition, espionage, and trial-and-error research, new types of pottery were created, including faïence & maïolica, soft-paste porcelain, and bone china. I discuss the complicated history of this competition, as well as Lavoisier's role, in detail in Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847).

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(*On oxidation-reduction reactions: while open (oxidation) fires use atmospheric oxygen to burn, enclosed fires can have too much fuel present to rely upon atmospheric oxygen. These fires break down chemical bonds, and consume (i.e. reduce) oxygen from within the fired objects themselves. This accounts for the colour changes that are possible, such as copper, which may be green in oxidation and red in reduction, or iron, which may rust to a red colour.)

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The sites that I have visited across Europe are known for a wide variety of styles and products. Some, such as Denby, are known for their stoneware productions and continue to produce wares. Others have taken on roles that include both manufacturing and historical preservation, such as Meissen, KPM, and Sèvres. I will continue to develop the stories on this page, and add more photo galleries of special objects and their histories.