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Chinese garden

In old and new technique

Two polychrome appliques can be found in the museum with a similar image of a Chinese garden. However, manufactured in two different techniques. The applique from 1899 goes back to the 17th century tradition of the Delft pottery bakers; the objects were first provided with a layer of tin glaze, which provided the coveted white background on which to paint. Then a layer of lead glaze was applied. (on the image below the applique on the left)

The applique from 1982 (produced almost a hundred years later by De Porceleyne Fles) is made with the new base material formed by white baking clay from Devon (the applique on the right in the image below). To this is added: china clay (kaolin) to promote whiteness, calcium for strength and Cornwall clay for the tight composition of all these raw materials. This white baking clay (biscuit) can be painted immediately after which a lead glaze is applied. This is how production continues to this day, with the tin-glaze layer definitively stopped in 1910. It is possible to see in detail what the different techniques do with the decoration.