Johnson Bros China: Shopping For Fine China
Fine china is considered an art form dating back from ancient Chinese dynasties and the earliest type of these beautiful ceramic dates as far back as 9, 200 years ago. Today, it is used for decorations, valuable gift items and dinnerware during important events. If you're planning on hosting a dinner, everyday dishes just won't do, you have to make it special and you using fine china as dinner ware will seal the deal.
There are two types of china: porcelain and bone china.
Porcelain
Porcelain is usually the other name used for china. It is durable; it is microwavable and dishwater safe. It is also non-absorbent and bacteria do not grow on it. The higher the quality of the porcelain dinnerware, the thinner and more translucent it is. However, being thin and translucent does not mean it is brittle; in fact high quality porcelain is resistant to chipping.
Bone China
Dinnerware bone china has materials closely related to porcelain; the difference is that it contains bone ash. This addition of bone ash creates a more translucent and clearer ceramic but still maintaining durability. Unlike porcelain that is ivory in color, bone china is whiter.
The main thing you have to consider whenever buying fine china is its durability. If you're shopping for fine china it is often wise to ask how tough the materials are because no matter how beautiful it is if it can easily be broken then you've wasted your money.
You should also be careful of imitations. Some stores use stoneware or regular porcelain as brand it as fine china. These variety of dinnerware are porous and might not be microwavable or dishwasher safe. You can check whether what you're looking at is authentic by checking its translucency. Carefully hold the piece of china in the light and check if it is translucent. Translucency is a sign of high quality because authentic fine china contains clay which makes it translucent.
Today, most fine china is made by machine, only a few are handmade. Most items comes in a circular shape because it is easier and cheaper for the company to create a dinnerware in that shape. You may see some items in the shape of a square or a hexagon but these may fetch at a higher price than its round counterpart. If you're planning to buy a set, expect to spend at least $500 for a 4-piece set.
There are various patterns painted in different colors to choose from. Your aesthetic taste should be the deciding factor which makes you decide. Although shopping for fine china costs a generous sum of cash, it is a worthy investment because it can last for a very long time and you can leave it for your children's children to use.
Trust Brothers Fine Tableware for all of your fine china needs. One of our favorite collections is Johnson Brothers Friendly Village.
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