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You may not be able to offer any more information that reading all the articles I have found via Google, but anyone have any additional tips about how to tell if something is Porcelain or Ceramic?
I have no smarts on that topic and have some lamps to sell. Not sure what they are made of.
(I am am old electrical gadgets kind of guy)
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Hey theMezz: Yes there is a lot of articles to Google but most do repeat themselves. Here is a link to data that explains very simply. The comparison chart in the middle is short and simple. BUT it has the same flaw as all of the other information we have found through the years. There seems to be no difinitive test, and all the tests recommended, seems to have to be done before the pieces are glazed or fired. But I do have a test I run in the field and it has helped us the most.
First here is the link to an Ebay article that is pretty good. Also Wiki has very good information on the Caolin clay, where it comes from, it’sa properties and why it is a better material for fine pieces.
We carry a fanny pack with us when we go out to procure inventory, sales, auctions, thrifts, etc. In it besides our cash, sales cert., we also carry a magnet, tape measure and a small LED flashlight. When you find a piece of Ceramic [All Porcelain is ceramic by the way in it’s loose generic material category, but all ceramic pottery is not Porcelain] turn on the flash light and shine it up into the hole, usually found in the bottom of all figurine type of pieces. If it lights up like a light bulb, we usually say it classifies as porcelain and meets the criteria that “Porcelain is thin and transparent to some degree”. If when shining the light up and into, or on the side and through a piece and it doesn’t “glow” or you see light pass through it, we usually go with the thought that it is the rough, coarser, thicker type of white clay and is thus “Non-Porcelain”. Other than that it is tough to find a test that doesn’t require a waterproof test of the piece before it gets fired.
By the way when we list ceramic items that we think is Porcelain, in the item specific area for “Materials”: we usually use both terms and list it like this. Porcelain / Ceramic. That way no one can argue with us. We have been challenged twice by a someone via email that our item was not a Porcelain piece so we started using the term ceramic after it and have never had a challenge since. In other words only an expert could possibly tell the difference. Is there a chemical test for Kaiolin Clay?? don’t know, but who cares..not us.
Hope this helps somewhat..
Mike at MDC Concepts, Inc.
MDC Galleries & Fine Art in Atlanta -
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To determine what some metals might be. What is cast iron [especially if it is painted and we can’t see the raw metal] and Steel and Stainless Steel, all are magnetic. Cast aluminum, brushed aluminum, nickle, and all alloy’s are non-magnetic.
Also we use it when quick checking out in the field if sterling silver jewelry has sterling clasps or not. Magnet testing of silver is “iffy” but it is good as a quick test. Real sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver; the most common alloy used to harden it is copper, and neither of these metals is magnetic. A chemical test is best but that is not something we can do when walking an auction or estate sale.
Mike at MDC Concepts, Inc. in Atlanta
MDC Galleries and Fine Art
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THANK YOU
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