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First made in China, it was imported into England from Germany in the form of grayish-white bottles from Siegburg known as schnellen, and mottled brown jugs from Cologne called tyger ware. In 1671, John Dwight of Fulham took out a patient for the manufacture of stoneware like the Rhineland variety.  He created many pieces of brownware and redware before he developed the more popular white salt-glazed stoneware, but, with the exception of several pieces in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, few examples of his innovative pottery have survived. 

Dwight’s stoneware was reproduced and modified by many factories during the 18th century.  Staffordshire made brown salt-glazed stoneware from the end of the 17th century and white salt-glazed stoneware from 1740-60.  Josiah Wedgewood, who revolutionized the ceramics industry, created blue-and-white jasper stoneware).  Josiah Spode of Stoke-on-Trent introduced a line of decorated stoneware in 1805.

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Several manufacturers tried to perfect an inexpensive yet durable earthenware for people who could not afford fine china.  The most successful was Miles Mason, who, in collaboration with his sons, experimented with a new form of stone china containing iron slag.  In 1813, after his father retired, Charles John Mason of Fenton in the Staffordshire potteries took out the famous patent for Ironstone China.

Mainly it depends on what “item” the topic is about such as a jade carving or are we referring to a Beatles album such as “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” or is the item in question “Popcorn?”

If the item is a jade carving it is most likely from China or Japan as well as porcelain figurines and dishes. Which have all become treasured the world over by almost any country that has either imported those items or someone from say Chile has an opportunity to visit China and of course has to get a few souvenirs to show the folks back home.  And more than likely they will purchase at least one of the three items China and Japan are famous for Jade carvings/jewelry, porcelain figurines and dishes.

Now if your item is a Beatles album that is by no means has an American origin.  And the British would be very much offended by anyone trying to claim the Beatles were American.  Although the American teens in the early 60ties readily embraced the Beatles even going so far as getting Beatle haircuts, wearing Beatle boots, and the Nero jacket after it was introduced on the above mentioned album “Sgt. Peppers” for short.  Those were cultural changes to America due to exposure to music for another country.  And I can’t think of a single country on this planet that has not be exposed to music by the Beatles, but on top of being exposed to their music it has also been sung in local hot spots worldwide.

Now if were talking popcorn you can’t find anything more true American than “popcorn.” [1]The oldest ears of popcorn ever found were discovered in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico in 1948 and 1950. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears are about 4,000 years old.  You can’t get more American than prior to the colonization of the Americas and that includes south as well as North America.  The Aztec Indians introduced popcorn, to the Spaniards in 1519 when Cortez invaded Mexico.  But yet isn’t popcorn synonymous with American movies so has been introduced to almost any culture that has been exposed to an American movie.

[1] http://www.popcorn.org/frames.cfm?main=teachers, Encyclopedia Popcornica: Early Popcorn History

For over than two thousand years, Italians have been creating ceramics.  The Italian ceramic artistic works has been influenced by the Spanish, Arab and Greek for over a centuries.  The said influential arts has resulted to majolica which named Majora, a Spanish island.

These sets up a three dimensioned and often show the fruits of earth. Spoon rests formed in the shape of an eggplant, ear of corn or artichoke are few of the examples.  Common theme are usually hand-painted and rightly colored as food representations.

The said ceramic Italian basket sprang up from a Majolica movement and eventually getting storng. Ceramic shops and tableware convey a great fine models of ceramic island basket in Italy.  Italian cermic baskets have been organized like its wicker cunterparts.

These porcelain baskets satisfy great number of standard for simplicity on its artistic designed with a combined practical purpose.  Ceramic Italian baskets have been artistically implicates Italians chasteness in its culture.

Absolutely, more that half of ceramic Italian basket was ordinarily painted in white. Color is brought in a sensitive designs and embroidered in an elaborated way of shaped birds, flowers or fruits.  This ceramic Italian basket simply makes a nice and good addition on your tableware display.   It is extremely elegant to display such basket on your buffet or dining room table filled with the fresh fruits.

How would you determine a genuine ceramic Italian basket nowadays?  Ebay is filled with genuine pieces at a reasonable prices.  Websites of Italian ceramic are also good to reckon.  Try to check out some websites on the net for a more varied choices.  You may be able to look for an authentic ceramic basket right at your computer.  There may be more designs to take into considerations with just an easy click.

If you want to purchase a used piece, make sure to carefully check it out. More likely there ought to be no trace of crazing of the porcelain.  A hallmark and mentioning the artisan origin should marked on the authentic piece.  For an older pieces, you’ ll see the word “Italy” written at its bottom.

Be ready to take some time seeing for the ideal piece. One should need to examine the quality. The said ceramic Italian baskets been inclined to chips and delicate due to travelling from place to another over the years.  These ceramic baskets been perfect to a family heirloom or as wedding gift. Its a great surprise for your loved ones.  One may also want to take it as its ceramic collections at home.

For more useful information, please visit our website: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, and look for the HOBBIES & CRAFTS section.

The Chinese first began to manufacture near white translucent ware in 700 AD, which became very much in demand in Venice during the 12th century. It was known as Porcellana, named after a Mediterranean sea animal, and was later translated into Porcelain in France. Later it was to grace the royal courts of Europe.

There was plenty of competition to perfect the production of porcelain, although the chinese attempted to safeguard their secrets, and eventually European porcelain was produced by John Bottger in Germany during the year of 1710.

England carried on experimenting with substances, having already achieved a long standing reputation of pottery making, and in 1800, a formula, using animal bone ground into fine powder was discovered. This was considered even more superior than the original chinese porcelain, and it was suitably named, Bone China.

Don’t be fooled by the word ” fine”, which is used to describe it. This can be misleading, because although this china has a very delicate appearance, it is , in fact, very strong and durable. The three main ingredients of bone china are,

50% bone.

25% china stone.

25% china clay.

In the manufacturing process, the calcined bone is mixed with stone, and ground very finely. This is mixed with china clay. Water is then added, and the impurities taken out. This state is known as clay. It is then fired over a kiln or oven at over 1250c for a period of time exceeding 2 days.

The end result is known as biscuit ware, and the next process is to dip it into liquid glaze, and then to fire it at 1100c for 30 hours. All this contributes to its lustrous shining quality, and its strength and quality is because of this glazing.

The china is now ready for the final stage of firing, and the process of decoration. Metals are used to add colour and richness, and the ” gold” used can be even purer than the gold of  the most expensive jewellery. These very important finishing touches take several hours in the decorating kiln because it is absolutely necessary to be certain that the rich colours and precious metal finishes are long lasting, and securely fused into the glaze.

The next time you see a table laid with a set of bone china, pick up a piece of it, and examine the quality of it. It does cost more than an every day set, because of its elegance and beauty. Sadly, most people opt for plain pottery that goes in the microwave these days,  which has not helped for the survival of our potteries in Stoke -on-Trent. However, companies like Aynsley, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton still manufacture this beautiful china, and it is also exported all over the world. No country can match our expertise at producing it. We are still renowned for it, and we have every right to be proud of it!

Silk, tea, porcelain, other decorative items, and wallpaper were among the items the Europeans sought from the rich and prosperous Qing Dynasty. The Canton trade system, robust agricultural sector and a peaceful country led to dramatic population growth in China under the Qing. However, this led to more problems as increased population gave rise to higher crime rates, stresses on environment and agriculture, countryside rebellions, migration. It also led to disorder in society as officials were not able to control the population effectively, leading to less taxation income as the officials were not able to college the taxes. The standards for government jobs were declining, revenue was drying up, increased corruption, thieves and rebellions as well as European presence were all just some of the problems that plagued the Empire during the late 1700s.

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Paper is one of the most wonderful inventions of China. Before the invention of paper people used to write on bamboo slips and silks. Tsai-lung (48-118 AD) an official of Imperial Court during the Eastern Han Dynasty was the creator of first paper in the world by drying pulp from bark, mulberry fibers, old rags and hemp. However according to a recent archeological discovery near Dunhuang, paper had been used for wrapping and padding in China since the 2nd century BC. They used paper as a writing medium by the 3rd century and by the 6th century they began using toilet-paper. Chinese were the first people to preserve the flavor of tea in square bags which were made from the folded and sewn paper during 618-907 AD, Tang Dynasty. The technique of paper making was slowly spread. It reached the Central Asia by 750 AD and Europe in the 14th century.

Printing

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Chinese used printing pattern on the cloths before 220 AD. Woodblock printing on a paper is a process in which the individual sheets of paper were pressed into wooden blocks with the text and illustrations carved into them. This technique was first used by Koreans in 751 AD.

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The first movable type system (made of clay) was invented by Bi Sheng in China around 1040 AD. Later, movable wooden type was developed by Wang Zhen by the late 13th century.

Gunpowder

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Chinese were the first to recognize sulfur and saltpeter as essential ingredients for gun powder. Though many people wrote about the inflammable mixtures during 300-650 AD, some historians claim that the invention of gunpowder was dated at 850 AD. However the true gunpowder formula was first published in the history by Tseng Kung-Liang around 1040 AD.

The Compass

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The Compass was used by the Chinese during 1040-44 AD. They used this device as a direction finder to recognize the directions of north and south poles. The first compass was an iron fish pointing to the south, floating in a bowl of water. However, the compass that many used was in the form of a magnetic needle floating in a bowl of water.

Seismometer

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The first Seismometer was invented by Zhang Heng in 132. He was an astronomer and mathematician of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). The instrument is described as a large metal urn-shaped which used a suspended or inverted pendulum to study earthquakes. Zhang Heng also invented the Odometer and he was the first person to construct a rotating celestial globe.

Cast Iron and Steel

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According to the available archaeological sources, Cast iron (made from the melting iron) was developed by Chinese by the early 5th century BC during the Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 BC). Chinese were able to hold iron at high temperature for a week in 3rd century BC. Chinese developed the process of refining iron into steel in 2nd century BC. Interestingly they made a process named as “Hundred refining method” in which carbon is removed from the iron by injecting oxygen into the blast surface. They repeated this process many times, hence the name. The finished product from this process had excellent strength and can hold an edge on a sword. Chinese workers made different types of metals of modern times at that time.

Winnowing Fan

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Many people thought that rotary air conditioning fan was invented by Din Huan in 180 AD. But archaeological sources claim that rotary winnowing fan was made during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) for separating chaff from the grain.

India Ink

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India ink, a mixture of soot from pine smoke and lamp oil, mixed with the gelatin of donkey skin and musk, was invented by Tein-Lcheu, a Chinese philosopher in 2697 B.C., yet it became popular by around year 1200 B.C. It was designed for blacking the surfaces of raised stone-carved hieroglyphics.

Matches

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Chinese were the first people to invent the matches in the year 577 AD during the kingdom of Northern Ch’i. Early matches were made of sticks of pinewood with sulfur and the description was written by Ta’o Ku in the book “Records of the Unworldly and the Strange” in around 950 AD. However there is no evidence of using matches in Europe before 1350 AD.

Paper Currency

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Paper currency was first developed in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) according to the wishes of merchants who would like to avoid the bulk usage of copper coins in large commercial transactions. The Central Government adopted this system during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

Suspension Bridge

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The suspension bridge was invented by Chinese in as early as 1st century AD. Rope made from bamboo was first constructed in 300 AD on Min River. However there is documental evidence that an iron chain suspension bridge was built in Yunnan around 600 AD.

Umbrella

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Umbrella was invented in ancient China in around 2nd century BC. Available sources suggested that collapsible umbrellas were designed with mechanical sliding levers during Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). Wang Mang, an official of Han Dynasty had designed a collapsible umbrella for a ceremonial four-wheeled carriage.

Silk

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Silk was first developed in ancient China by 3000 BC. According to a legend, Leizu, Chinese Empress, wife of the Yellow Emperor of Chia, discovered silkworms spinning cocoons. She collected some cocoons and dropped a cocoon into the steaming water and amazed when a shining and soft thread started to separate itself from cocoon. Thus she invented silk loom in 28th century BC. Later Chinese used silk threads, silk belts and pieces of woven silk approximately in 2570 BC.

Chop Sticks and Forks

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King Zhou of Shang was the first person to make the chopsticks out of ivory in the 11th century BC. Chopsticks made out of bronze that belonged to 1200 BC were found in the archaeological sources. According to the available sources bone forks had been used in China during 2400-1900 BC. This suggests that fork had been used in China long before chop sticks.

Porcelain

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Though archaeological sources claim that porcelain was used in 3rd century AD, the true porcelain was made by Tao-Yue during 608 – 676 AD. He mixed white clay (found along the Yangzte River) to other types of clay which in result gave that white porcelain.

There are many others that were first started and used by Chinese, like toothbrush, ice cream, salt, spaghetti, tea etc. The list seems endless.