What is white ironstone?

For those of you not familiar with ironstone, it is antique pottery originally made in the United Kingdom. It was developed in the 19th century by potters in Staffordshire, England as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative to porcelain.

Is Ironstone China worth anything?

These now-prized finds were not only cheaper to produce but also more apt to survive shipping unscathed. Today, they can be found for $30 or more each. PLATES Whether pint-size butter dishes or full-size dinnerware, bundles of matching ironstone plates can be hard to find.

How can you tell if something is real ironstone?

The best way for you to learn to spot ironstone is by studying a piece of ironstone. The most noticeable thing is the weight. A piece of ironstone will always feel heavier than it looks. It has a wonderful luster about it as well, that can be easily recognized if you know what you’re looking for.

How do you clean white ironstone?

You’ll need a container with a lid, like a plastic storage bin, big enough to hold the piece completely submerged in hydrogen peroxide. Put the lid on to stop the peroxide from evaporating and leave the china to soak for two or three days. Wait for a sunny day, then remove the ironstone piece and put it in sunlight.

What color is ironstone?

A mid-based grey with a strong bluish undertone, Colorbond® Ironstone® is an impressive contemporary colour that can be used for accents or trims on the exterior of your home.

Can you bleach ironstone?

Lastly, don’t ever use bleach to clean ironstone. Bleach will destroy the piece.

Where is ironstone found?

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS | Ironstones They are found almost exclusively above coal seams in a lacustrine parasequence with mudstone and seat earth deposits (Figure 3). Palaeontological and mineralogical evidence indicates that these ironstones were formed during freshwater inundation.

What is ironstone china made of?

Ironstone is not porcelain; it’s porous earthenware, made of clay mixed with feldspar. Patented in 1813 by Charles James Mason in Staffordshire, England, it was an immediate success, and ironstone blanks were decorated with transfer patterns or hand painting to imitate Chinese porcelain. There is no iron in ironstone.