Porcelain
A hard, white, shiny ceramic made from special clay and fired at very high temperatures.
What is it?
Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is very hard, white, and often translucent. It is made from kaolin clay and fired at temperatures over 1200°C. Porcelain was first made in China over a thousand years ago. Chinese porcelain, like the blue-and-white pilgrim flask, was highly prized around the world. The pilgrim flask you captured is a fine example of Ming-dynasty porcelain. Porcelain was also used for other objects like vases, plates, and figurines.
Why it matters
Porcelain is strong and beautiful. It was one of the first global trade goods, connecting China with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Porcelain designs also spread art styles across cultures.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more porcelain objects.