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Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions

What is the difference between bone china and fine china?

1 Answer
What is the difference between bone china and fine china?
A few things account for the difference between bone china and fine china. True bone china contains animal-derived bone ash, while fine china does not. The addition of the bone ash gives bone china a lighter, more delicate feel and a translucent appearance. Fine china, by comparison, is weightier and more opaque. Also, fine china tends to be more economically priced than bone. Explore a variety of china on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024
Shop for Porcelain on 1stDibs
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Botanical Soup Tureen & Cover
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain European Flower Botanical Soup Tureen & Cover, Circa 1780 The Chinese Export porcelain tureen and cover are well painted with large European bouquets of ...
Category

Antique 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Soup Tureens

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Sèvres Porcelain Ormolu-Mounted Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique Sèvres porcelain ormolu-mounted vases French, 18th Century Height 50cm, diameter 21cm Dating from the 18th century, this distinguished pair of porcelain vases origi...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Porcelain

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Bowl with Chinese Domestic Furniture
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Famille Rose porcelain bowl with Chinese "Antiques" & Scholar's items on Furniture, Qianlong Period, circa 1735-1740. The Chinese Export porcelain bowl is finely painted inside and out with famille rose enamels. On the front is a depiction of an unusual grouping of Chinese domestic...
Category

Antique 1730s Chinese Chinese Export Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Chinese Export Porcelain Trompe Giant L'oeil Peach Altar Fruit
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain Trompe L'oeil Giant Peach Altar Fruit, Circa 1850-1890 The extremely large Chinese Export model of a giant fruit is naturalistically modeled as a peach with...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Plate, Themes and Variations, Motiv 13
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Plate, Themes and Variations, Buttons, Motiv 13, 1980s From a collection of Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti plates that we have in stock. Wonderful rare example of the small range of plates made by Rosenthal in the 1980s from Piero Fornasetti designs. This one depicts the face of Lina Cavalieri as buttons on a military-style jacket. These plates are sometimes called Julia plates...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Large Blue & White Porcelain Planter Jardiniere 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a delightful and decorative vintage blue and white ironstone china planter which will look fabulous with plants and flowers but is also i...
Category

Late 20th Century European Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

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