Today fine porcelain is made in many places around the world - indeed wherever the two essential ingredients may be found, namely the fine white clay called kaolin and china stone, both derived from the decomposition of feldspar. When mixed together and moulded or turned on the potter's wheel, the pieces are then baked twice to allow the secrets inherent in the two materials to form hard porcelain, which when decorated with precious metals and the rich natural colours of the earth, represents the very pinnacle of ceramic art.

For many centuries the physical properties of porcelain represented the mysteries of China where it originated. Sensuous and delicate in appearance, its translucency combined with surprising strength fascinated Marco Polo during his travels in China in the 13th century and when the first true porcelain

are in Europe a century later, its manufacture confounded the most famous alchemists and potters of the day. Over the next four centuries before the formula for making natural porcelain was discovered in Europe and then put to glorious use in Limoges, many attempts were made to copy the Chinese porcelain to no avail until the 18th century all porcelain to no avail - until the 18th century all porcelain made in Europe was soft paste or 'artificial' porcelain.