The porcelain was discovered and used in China where the first European travelers have admired the white clear material. When they returned to Europe they also brought some pieces with them and so the Chinese porcelain commerce began. The request was too big compared with the offer, therefore the Europeans tried to figure out the secret of Chinese porcelain making. The main ingredient, the kaolin was discovered only in 1709 by Bottger and Von Tschirnhaus. This achievement convinced the king of Poland to open a porcelain factory in Meissen. Despite of all their efforts the Europeans could not reproduce an exact copy of the Chinese porcelain. This was a hard thing to do also because in China the porcelain designs and ways of manufacturing were in continuous development.

Depending on what dynasty had the power in China, the porcelain was fabricated and painted differently. The Han Dynasty used to color their Chinese porcelain with celadon and black but with no new methods of firing. Then during the Tang Dynasty things changed a little. Using brighter colors, amazing tones of white that was frequently compared with snows color the artisans living in that period thought more of esthetics than of the perfect firing or shaping processes. Followed by the Song Dynasty, its Emperor put more accents on kilns. The most famous kiln from that time was Jun from the Henan Province. In this kiln every piece of Chinese porcelain fabricated was meant to get in the hands of the royal family. No one else had the right to buy them. After the Yuan Dynasty took the throne, the fabulous white and blue Chinese porcelain has replaced the old one in the every Chinese home.

In our days almost every culture and tradition expresses itself through porcelain also. Besides China, now Mexico, Italy or United Kingdom also fabricate porcelain and porcelain is as appreciated as ever!