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Investing in Ceramics

Ceramics from the 50’s to the 70’s are becoming very collectable and are still reasonably easy to find. You could start by checking what might be hidden away at the backs of cupboards or in your loft or garage – the value of some pieces may surprise you. If you know what to look for, you can also pick up fantastic bargains in charity shops, jumble sales and boot fairs.

Ceramics can be divided into two predominant groups, porcelain and pottery. Generally, porcelain is more expensive than pottery. Age, rarity, decoration and above all condition have a bearing on the value of a piece. Porcelain comes in two forms, hard and soft paste. If an item is smooth in appearance, a little like icing sugar, it is probably hard paste, whereas a finish that resembles sand will be soft.

English bone china was first introduced in about 1794 and was made by mixing large quantities of bone ash with the hard paste ingredients. Minton, Derby and Spode are good examples of bone china manufacturers.

 

Like porcelain, pottery has two main styles, earthenware and non-porous stoneware. Earthenware pottery is made from clay fired at a temperature of less than 1,200°c. It is a porous material and can vary in colour depending upon the iron content and colour of the clay. Stoneware is made from clay, fired at a temperature of up to 1,400°c, which fuses it into a non-porous finish, enabling it to hold liquid.

Glaze is also important. It can be opaque, clear or coloured and comes in three main types; salt which involves adding salt to the mixture in the kiln, tin in which tin oxide is added to give a white, opaque finish and finally lead which is used in most soft porcelain and earthenwares.

Below are links relating to ceramics:

 

www.Investments.co.uk covers the entire range of financial investments so visit us at www.Investments.co.uk/Financial Investments to help you put together a well balanced investment strategy.

 

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