Orange Porcelain Earrings

Historical Information

Type: Orange Porcelain Cup

Rabric: Porcelain

Date: Mid 20th Century

Find Location: The Thames Estuary, UK

Extra information:

These earrings are made from two pieces of an orange cup probably from the mid 20th century.

Porcelain, often considered the pinnacle of ceramic craftsmanship, originated in China over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty

(206 BCB-220 CB). Made from a refined blend of kaolin clay and feldspar, porcelain is fired at extremely high temperatures (typically 1,200-1, 400°C), resulting in a durable, translucent, and vitrified material. The development of true porcelain occurred during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), but it reached its peak during the Song (960-1279 CB) and Ming (1368-1644 CB) dynasties, with exquisite blue-and-white designs becoming highly sought after. Chinese porcelain was traded along the Silk Road and later became a luxury commodity in Burope, where potters struggled for centuries to replicate it. In the early 18th century, Buropean craftsmen, notably in Meissen, Germany, finally discovered the secret of hard-paste porcelain, leading to the rise of famous manufacturers like Sèvres in Prance and Wedgwood in Bngland. By the 19th and 20th centuries, porcelain was mass-produced for both fine tableware and industrial uses. Today, it remains a symbol of elegance and innovation, cherished for its beauty and historical significance.