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Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating selected and refined materials, often including clay in the form of kaolinite, to high temperatures. The raw materials for porcelain, when mixed with water, form a plastic body that can be worked to a required shape before firing in a kiln at temperatures between 1200°C and 1400°C. The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation at high temperatures of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body. Porcelain was named after its resemblance to the white, shiny cowry, called in old Italian porcella (little pig), because the curved shape of its upper surface resembles the curve of a pig's back. |
[0139] A nice porcelain gambling top, Japan, 41x21 mm
[0770 x5] Porcelain dice in a carton box, Japan, 16.5 mm
[0771 x2] Porcelain dice marked Japan (hardly visible), Japan, 17.5 mm
[0772 x2] Porcelain dice marked Japan (hardly visible), Japan, 25.5 mm
[0773 x2] Porcelain dice marked Japan (hardly visible), Japan, 16 mm
[1546 x2] Porcelain dice, Japan, 19 mm
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Three sets of old porcelain dice for the Dutch game 'Boerenschroom' (translated in English as 'Peasant's fear'). This game was played in the 19th century in the Netherlands using 8 cards and 2 dice: one die with the markings B,1,2,3 and the other die with the markings S,4,5,6. Nowadays the game is hardly ever played anymore. |
[0338 x2] Porcelain, Netherlands, 18 mm.
[0629 x2] Porcelain, Netherlands, 18 mm.
[1880 x2] Porcelain, Netherlands, 20 mm.
[1931 x2] Porcelain, Netherlands, about 18 mm.
[1943 x2] Porcelain, Netherlands, 19.5 mm.
