Porcelain is one of the most valued and exquisite materials ever created by humankind. From its ancient origins in China to its presence in contemporary jewelry, its history is filled with secrets, discoveries, and beauty. At CLAYMOSS, we work with handcrafted, high-temperature ceramic porcelain, and knowing its story connects us to its very essence.
Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer, introduced the term “porcelain” to Europe in the 13th century. During his travels in China, he was fascinated by brilliant white, lightweight pieces unlike anything he had ever seen.
Unfamiliar with their name, he compared them to the nacre-like shell of the porcellana mollusk.
In China, this material was known as tzu, prized both for its beauty and for the pure, metallic sound it produced when struck.
Porcelain’s story begins in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), though it was during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) that the first pieces recognized for their purity and translucence emerged, known as “false jade.”
Key ingredients:
Kaolin: A white clay that holds its shape during firing.
Petuntse (pai-tun-tzu): A feldspathic rock that vitrifies the piece, adding strength and shine.
Fired at over 1250 °C, this combination created a hard, resonant, and luminous material that defined Chinese ceramic art for centuries.
During the Middle Ages, porcelain traveled from Asia to Europe via trade routes and quickly became a luxury object reserved for royalty and the aristocracy.
Its manufacturing secrets were closely guarded in China for centuries.
In Spain, King Charles III founded the Royal Factory of Buen Retiro in 1760, producing exquisite porcelain of distinctive style, still admired today.
Centuries later, handcrafted porcelain remains a symbol of elegance, purity, and creativity. Today, artists and designers reimagine it across disciplines like art, décor, and contemporary jewelry.
At CLAYMOSS, each piece is hand-shaped, sanded, and fired slowly at 1250 °C — an artisanal process that pays homage to this millennia-old tradition.
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