porcelain

Ceramic material made of kaolin (china clay) with other ingredients fired at a very high temperature to produce a hard white impermeable body.

Porcelain is the most generally admired form of ceramic material. It was not made in Europe until the 18th century, although it had been produced in China from about the 9th century AD. Western porcelain is generally divided into three main categories: hard-paste (or 'true' porcelain), soft-paste and bone china, depending on the ingredients used.

See also: porcelain factories.