All porcelain, including Powell Craft porcelain, is made by heating raw materials such as clay in a kiln at high temperatures – between 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. When mixed with water these raw materials from a plastic body that can be moulded to the required shape before firing in a kiln.
Porcelain is known for its strength and translucence, which comes from the formation of glass and a mineral called mullite that both form when the porcelain is fired at such high temperatures.
The name porcelain comes from an Italian word ‘porcellana’ meaning cowrie shell. It acquired this name because of its resemblance to the translucent surface of the shell. In some English-speaking countries porcelain is often referred to as ‘china’ because China was actually the original birthplace of porcelain making.
Porcelain is now made all over the world, by many different manufacturers, each with their own distinctive style, but it is generally synonymous with England. While porcelain is known generally for being hard, strong and white it can be glazed and artificially coloured to make different designs and styles.
Powell Craft makes three different porcelain collections, each in a different style and colour – the Blue Rose collection, the Red Rose collection and the Dingley Dell collection.
Powell Craft Blue Rose porcelain is a collection of white porcelain with a blue rose motif decorating each item. Items in the collection include plates, bowls, jugs, teapots, trays, fruit bowls, candle holders, egg cups, coffee pots, cups and saucers, mugs, tureens and cake stands.
The Powell Craft Red Rose collection is similar to the Blue Rose but of course has a red rose motif for decoration on the white glazed porcelain.
The Dingley Dell collection is quite different to the other two collections. It is an exquisite collection of white porcelain decorated with a delicate pale green and pink floral design. There are fewer items to collect from this range but they include cups and saucers, mugs, plates, bowls, teapots, cake stands and egg cups.
Porcelain became popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries when it was initially imported from China before being made in England in the 18th century, and remains popular to this day. It is associated with the finer things in life and when the porcelain or ‘china’ cups are brought out for tea it is usually on a special occasion.
Many people collect porcelain because they like the designs and usually like to collect whole matching sets. Powell Craft porcelain has become very popular in recent years and is now available to buy over the internet as it can be safely shipped to its destination with little risk of breakages. With three different collection to chose from some collectors end up wanting them all!