Earthenware dishes: types, rules for selection and care

For many centuries, faience ware was considered one of the most convenient and presentable. True, many consumers often confuse earthenware with porcelain products, and these are completely different things, despite the fact that they look about the same and are made of ceramics. Earthenware products were still produced on the territory of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, although their appearance in those days was far from perfect.

Only a few centuries later, the first faience ware appeared in the Italian city of Faenza. The masters of that time for a long time tried to achieve the elegance of Chinese porcelain, as a result of which they achieved excellence in the production of faience.

For a long time, faience was called majolica, it was released throughout Europe. This material fell into the territory of Russia only in the 18th century. High mastery in its production was achieved by Ukrainian masters from Tripoli. Faience from the factory of merchant A. Grebenshchikov from Moscow It was especially popular: craftsmen painted colored enamel with paint. Masterpieces from these masters are still appreciated in the world of connoisseurs of beauty.

Faience - a material that is a type of ceramic, obtained in the process of sintering clay with certain mineral additives. In the Middle Ages, faience was made from quartz pebbles, limestone, soda and copper ore. Today, clay (kaolin), spar and quartz are used in its production. Earthenware dishes are very similar to porcelain, but unlike them, they do not shine in the light - its color is not perfectly white.

The main element of faience components is white clay is a material that makes dishes rather fragile and not quite resistant to high temperatures. The structure of the products is porous, the walls are thick. A feature of faience products is that they periodically absorb the smells of products. Whatever it was, but products from this material are very popular in the territory of modern hostesses. Bright, custom mugs and plates can be a highlight in any kitchen.

The main advantages of dishes made of this interesting material are: excellent decoration of the dishes due to the fact that it is possible to cover the surface with colored glaze, as well as a rather low price. In addition, the following benefits are important:

• does not cause allergies;
• Compared to simple clay products, faience is more durable;
• dishes perfectly retain heat, which is very convenient when cooking dishes;
• very convenient and easy to use, easily laundered from any grease and resistant to any detergents;
• You can not be afraid to store, for example, a plate one in another, worrying that they will crack;
• a set of such dishes can be a wonderful gift for any lover of the beautiful.

It can be added that not only dishes are made from faience, but also other products, for example, figurines.

The disadvantages of such dishes include:

• insufficient whiteness;
• lack of elegance (when compared with luxury porcelain dishes);
• instability to sudden changes in temperature;
• absorption of unpleasant odors - this dish does not need to be covered for a long time.

Today, manufacturers offer 4 types of earthenware products. We list them.

• Lime. In this case, in addition to clay and quartz, chalk and dolomite containing calcium and magnesia are added to the composition of the material. This type of ceramic is subjected to thermal firing at a not very high temperature.

• Soft. In the manufacture of this type of faience, in addition to ordinary clay and traditional quartz additives, manufacturers add flux - substances that can contribute to a certain firing of products and in its process turn into a molten state, forming a low-melting compound.

• Feldspar. The name of such a material speaks for itself: a certain amount of feldspar - a mineral from the class of silicates - is added to the fired mass.

• Solid. One of the most dense materials fired at high temperatures. Therefore, dishes from this type of faience are the most durable and dense.

All dishes made from such an unusual material are in demand not only in private life, but also have long gained popularity in various types of catering: in restaurants and cafes, canteens and pizzerias, in fast foods.

With regards to the assortment presented in today's market for cookware, the faience industry has something to boast of:

• deep, medium and sandwich plates;
• sauces of various shapes;
• dishes for fish and salad;
• tureens for serving different types of soups;
• cups for broths with lids;
• cups for coffee and coffee pots;
• tea cups and teapots;
• bowls of various sizes;
• sugar bowls, milk jugs and various vases;
• tea and coffee sets;
• sets of children's dishes;
• sets of "Chinese" bowls;
• containers for storing various bulk solids;
• sets for jewelry: beads, ritual accessories for fortune telling.

The most important thing when choosing earthenware is to determine the quality of the production of utensils. It is necessary to carefully examine it inside and out. The surface of any product must be perfectly flat, otherwise any irregularities and chips can be guaranteed to become a bunch of germs and dirt.In order not to make a mistake, try to catch a sunbeam on the surface of the same plate - this natural spotlight will allow you to see all the bumps and roughnesses.

Be sure to check with the manufacturer - the more famous it is, the more likely it is to purchase quality dishes. It is better to opt for branded companies. By purchasing various products from your own hands, you can make a mistake - negligent manufacturers seeking fast money can offer earthenware products that contain toxic components. Therefore, it is better to choose the dishes in more civilized places.

Experts say that white faience ware is the safest in this regard, since it is not covered with colored glaze, and overglaze decor is the source of the spread of microbes. That's why it is recommended not to use cracked dishes. To make sure your cookware is crack free, simply tap on it. The whole faience makes a rather muffled sound.

Dishes from different materials require specialized care. Earthenware is no exception. Products from it do not like sudden changes in temperature, so it is best to wash used plates and cups in warm water. Too hot water can cause cracks in the glaze.

When washing different types of metal, exclude metal brushes that grind the surface and can scratch colored glaze or some other delicate coating.

In no case do not leave the earthenware product on a hot stove - it will crack.

Experts recommend "strengthening" faience at home: put the utensils in a large pot or metal bowl, pour ordinary water without any kind of additives. After we bring the water to a boil, boil for 15 minutes and let cool with the contents. The main thing is to keep warm in the room where you do all this - close the windows or windows, otherwise the temperature difference can also lead to cracks on the surface of the dishes. Do not pull out the still-cold dishes - and it will serve you for a long time.

If your dishes are covered with colored enamel, then during storage it is better to shift each product with pieces of paper or a cloth.

It is better not to put earthenware dishes in the microwave - it will crack from exposure to hot temperature.

The demand for earthenware dishes is growing day by day due to many advantages, the main of which is design and originality

See how the porcelain dishes differ from china in the next video.