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.
When purchasing a set, you need to find out what the percentage of bone ash is in the china. Higher quality china will have a higher percentage of bone dust mixed in the clay. Look for sets that have between 30 and 45 per cent bone dust mixed in with the clay. It should be translucent- that is, when you hold it up to the light, you can see the light through the china.
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.
Cleaning your set is something that needs to be done properly. This is a time when it is easier to accidentally damage one of your items. You also need to be careful when putting your items into storage regardless of whether it is just for a short time or if you are packing items away for a longer period of time.
If you are cleaning your set, it is a good idea to do so by hand. This is especially true if the set has metal accents on any part of the pieces. This is because the heat of a dishwasher can soften the metal and cause it to come off if it is not allowed to cool. You also want to make sure that the handles are not hit or struck during cleaning as they can break.
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.
When purchasing a set, you need to find out what the percentage of bone ash is in the china. Higher quality china will have a higher percentage of bone dust mixed in the clay. Look for sets that have between 30 and 45 per cent bone dust mixed in with the clay. It should be translucent- that is, when you hold it up to the light, you can see the light through the china.
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.
Cleaning your set is something that needs to be done properly. This is a time when it is easier to accidentally damage one of your items. You also need to be careful when putting your items into storage regardless of whether it is just for a short time or if you are packing items away for a longer period of time.
If you are cleaning your set, it is a good idea to do so by hand. This is especially true if the set has metal accents on any part of the pieces. This is because the heat of a dishwasher can soften the metal and cause it to come off if it is not allowed to cool. You also want to make sure that the handles are not hit or struck during cleaning as they can break.
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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