China and Dinnerware

About China and Dinnerware

The art of making decorated porcelain ware originated in China thousands of years ago. From 960 through 1279, during the Song dynasty, emperors established factories to make porcelain for the royal family. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the familiar underglazed blue and white patterns that many people think of as "china" were developed, and detailed decorative painting over glaze became common.

Porcelain, called china, was exported to Europe as early as the 1100s, but it was rare and only available to the very wealthy. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), a wider variety of designs were exported. Demand for china cups and saucers grew as drinking tea, coffee, and chocolate became common practice...

European manufacturers attempted to make hard-paste porcelain in response to the demand, and began successfully competing with Chinese porcelain during the 18th century. France became the leading manufacturer of soft-paste porcelain, and the German Meissen factory perfected European hard-paste porcelain.

Meanwhile, England began producing bone china in large quantities, lead by Josiah Spode. However, due to its high cost, porcelain was still restricted predominantly to the upper-class and royalty (hence manufacturer names like Royal Copenhagen and Royal Doulton) until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Although technical advances made porcelain available to a wider range of people during the 19th century, earthenware (baked clay) and stoneware (clay fired at an intense heat to make it nonporous) continued to be popular for dinnerware items.

Mass-production of china and dinnerware began in the late 19th century, with a corresponding decline in the quality of craftsmanship and materials. Fine porcelain dinnerware was more commonly used for decoration than to hold food. (In addition to dinnerware, prominent makers also created ornamental figurines featuring people and animals.) By the 20th century, colorful functional designs – such as Franciscan and Fiesta – were in high demand.

Collectors today have access to a wide variety of antique and vintage china and dinnerware. In this section we provide a sampling of some of the major makers, styles and regions, including British (Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Spode, Wedgwood, Royal Worcester, Johnson Brothers), Japanese (Noritake), German (Meissen), French (Limoges, Haviland), Danish (Royal Copenhagen), and American (stoneware, Fiesta, Franciscan, Lenox, Red Wing).

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Continue reading

Upcoming Events new

Post an EventHow This Works

See all China and Dinnerware events



Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Howard Coutts, Ceramics Curator Of The Bowes Museum

I’m the curator of the ceramics bit of the Bowes Museum. It’s a big museum with 30 galleries of which three or four… [more]

An Interview With Fiesta Dinnerware Collector Heidi Kellner

I started as a collector and I’m a web designer, so I thought I would design a website from my passion. I threw it … [more]

Ceramics Used in America From 1830 to 1859

In the 19th century affluent Americans enjoyed ready access to the ceramic markets of the world. The result was the… [more]

The Three Periods of Oriental Lowestoft

Through sheer longevity and persistence, the term Oriental Lowestoft has become the designation for all Chinese por… [more]

English Portraiture in Ceramics

Although English artists began working very early in other media, the making of portrait busts and statues in ceram… [more]

Exhibition of Cup Plates

It is always a matter of pleasure to collectors, who visit antiques shows, to find the commercial aspect made somew… [more]

Decorative Accessories of 18th Century English Porcelain

Whilst much thought and attention has been given to the purely decorative figures and objects produced by the 18th-… [more]

Oriental Lowestoft

"A sett of large blue and white China with the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati if to be had, " wrote George … [more]

Oriental Lowestoft from Mexico

When one sees a piece of Oriental Lowestoft or a China trade item, the clock turns back a century and a half or mor… [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Gotheborg.com

Gotheborg.com

Jan-Erik Nilsson's extensive reference on antique Chinese porcelain. Jam-packed with information (e.g. on porcelain… [read review or visit site]

Ohio River Pottery

Ohio River Pottery

Mark Gonzalez's fantastic American Dinnerware site features a comprehensive index of potteries along the upper Ohio… [read review or visit site]

Watt Pottery On Line

Watt Pottery On Line

Dedicated to Watt Pottery collectors everywhere, this site features an extensive database on Watt creations includi… [read review or visit site]

Worcester Porcelain Museum

Worcester Porcelain Museum

The museum with the world's largest collection of Worcester porcelain is a good starting point for beginning collec… [read review or visit site]

The Restaurant Ware Collectors Network

The Restaurant Ware Collectors Network

Don't miss this collaborative reference guide to china and dinnerware used in public, commercial venues. The site c… [read review or visit site]

Thepotteries.org

Thepotteries.org

Steve Birks' super deep site is a tribute to a bygone era, chronicling how a pottery center of excellence (they did… [read review or visit site]

The Bowes Museum: Ceramics

The Bowes Museum: Ceramics

This gallery showcases 2,130 of the 5,000 items in the museum's ceramics collection dating from 1500-1900. Include… [read review or visit site]

Ceramics at The V&A

Ceramics at The V&A

A great reference on ceramics from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Learn about different ceramics techniques and st… [read review or visit site]

Gardiner Museum

Gardiner Museum

This website boasts hundreds of beautiful ceramics items with detailed descriptions. Start browsing here, and keep … [read review or visit site]

The Art of Asia

The Art of Asia

This microsite from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts features objects from the Institute’s permanent collection,… [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Clubs & Associations: China and Dinnerware


Discussion Forums: China and Dinnerware

Are we missing one? Tell us.

Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly China and Dinnerware email

Sorted by        
Red Wing Commemorative Collection Buy it Now$2,740 Ends Thursday 16 bids 73 watchers
Magnificent Royal Worcester Vase Signed By W Hawkins $2,238 Ends Thursday 23 bids 47 watchers
Monumental 5 Gallon Eagle Crock!!!!!$1,430 Ends Sunday 16 bids 79 watchers
Royal Doulton * Ladybird * Hn1640 Rare Ballet Figurine$1,251 Ends Saturday 14 bids 34 watchers
Rare Blue And White Stoneware Bullseye Coffee Pot$1,005 Ends Sunday 7 bids 35 watchers
Carlton Ware Stunning Heron & Magical Tree Vase$1,000.00 Ends Saturday 14 bids 33 watchers
Antique Royal Worcester Fruit Plate Frank Roberts $963.00 Ends in 12 hours 5 bids 36 watchers
Redwing Union Stoneware Canning Jar Half Gallon "rare"$959.99 Ends Wednesday 13 bids 74 watchers
Nippon Coralene Water Lilies Aqua Blue Handled Vase$950.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 22 watchers
Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Large Vase Z5360 Mint Cond$909.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 52 watchers
Noritake Art Deco Covered Box$900.00 Ends Friday 11 bids 51 watchers
C1860s Portage City Wisconsin Wi Stoneware Pitcher$895.00 Ends Wednesday 16 bids 17 watchers
Royal Doulton ** Sleep ** Hn24 Early P Stabler Figurine$860.31 Ends Friday 19 bids 25 watchers
Royal Winton Old Cottage Chintz China, Perfect, 84 Pcs$810.00 Ends Sunday 13 bids 10 watchers
Hutschenreuther 156 Pieces China Dinnerware Tea Set!!!$787.77 Ends Sunday 13 bids 21 watchers
Pair Meissen German Porcelain Cherub Planters Stands Bo$774.28 Ends Thursday 1 bid 4 watchers
German Meissen Porcelain Serpent Maiden Candelabras Can$743.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 1 watcher
Shelley Dainty Black Cup & Saucer$738.00 Ends Sunday 18 bids 40 watchers
Serene Royal Doulton Figurine Le Catherine Parr Hn 3450$625.68 Ends Thursday 5 bids 12 watchers
9" Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Bowl #3504 1st Choice$575.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 11 watchers
Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Pierced Platter 20/3574$550.00 Ends in 5 hours 2 bids 5 watchers
5 Majolica Wedgwood Butter Pats Turquoise Flower Mums$521.11 Ends in 7 hours 11 bids 7 watchers
Antique Meissen German Porcelain Cherub Figurine Figure$512.00 Ends Saturday 13 bids 36 watchers
Rare Royal Doulton Figurine Cynthia Hn1686 No Reserve$511.01 Ends in 5 hours 10 bids 36 watchers
Royal Copenhagen - #632 Marmot$506.99 Ends Thursday 4 bids 11 watchers
Very Rare Thomas & Bros, Huntingdon, Pa. Stoneware Jug$500.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 16 watchers
Royal Worcester: Mill Reef Racehorse By Doris Lindner$486.47 Ends Monday 2 bids 19 watchers
Rare Carlton Ware Art Deco 'bell' Ink Well$461.44 Ends Wednesday 19 bids 59 watchers
Royal Worcester: Shire Horse Stallion By Doris Lindner$437.98 Ends Monday 2 bids 26 watchers
Superb Royal Doulton Figurine Mrs Fitzherbert - Hn 2007$430.16 Ends in 20 hours 4 bids 16 watchers
Royal Doulton Friar Of Orders Grey Rare Wall Face Mask$423.02 Ends in 5 hours 9 bids 26 watchers
Royal Doulton Lord Of The Rings Figure Samwise Hn 2925$412.95 Ends Saturday 5 bids 21 watchers
Rosenthal German Porcelain Putti Boy Goat Figurine$406.00 Ends Thursday 12 bids 31 watchers
Royal Copenhagen Overglaze Amager Girl #12412$405.00 Ends Sunday 21 bids 27 watchers
Red Wing Stoneware Co.spatterware Jug With Bail Handle$405.00 Ends Friday 16 bids 69 watchers
6 Gal. Red Wing Stoneware Birch Leaf Ice Water, Crock $400.00 Ends in 1 hour 10 bids 40 watchers
Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Half Lace Set 12 Piece$400.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 8 watchers
Rosenthal Wiinblad Studio-line 10" Vase$399.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 1 watcher
Lovely Rare Shelley Foley Wileman Intarsio Clock$398.87 Ends Sunday 7 bids 44 watchers
Rare Old Royal Doulton Figurine Matilda Hn2011$391.55 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
Antique German Porcelain Meissen Cherub Angel Figurine$390.00 Ends Friday 14 bids 51 watchers
Royal Doulton Set Of Four Character Jugs - The Beatles$389.49 Ends Monday 1 bid 7 watchers
Stunning Herend Hungary Coffee Pot / Cup / Tray Set$383.23 Ends in 5 hours 4 bids 30 watchers
Beauitful 13 Piece Limoges China Game Platter Set Look$380.00 Ends in 11 hours 19 bids 23 watchers
Superb D&co Limoges Tall Vase/pink,yellow & Ruby Roses$375.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 14 watchers
Rosenthal Studio Line - Luigi Colani 1971??drop?? Tea Set$372.99 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 28 watchers
Royal Doulton Koala Figurine Pin Dish Rare Australiana$356.74 Ends in 13 hours 8 bids 38 watchers
Wedgwood Keith Murray Large Matt Straw Vase$350.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 9 watchers
Vernon Kilns Harry Bird Tropical Fish Carafe With Lid$350.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 9 watchers
Noritake #6341 Oriental Set 120 Pieces New Nib$349.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
Antique Dresden Ludwigsburg Group Bacchus Goat Yqz$345.22 Ends in 12 hours 22 bids 35 watchers
Sublime Royal Doulton Figurine A Victorian Lady Hn 1277$322.23 Ends in 5 hours 8 bids 27 watchers
Royal Crown Derby Royal Antoinette 21 Piece Tea Service$320.66 Ends Monday 5 bids 22 watchers
Charming Antique Meissen Porcelain Figure $316.75 Ends Thursday 7 bids 40 watchers
Super Rare Pa. Stovepipe Canner!!!!!!$316.00 Ends Sunday 4 bids 24 watchers

»» Get our weekly China and Dinnerware email
Right now on eBay

China and Dinnerware

See also

Tools