Materials · Material
高岭土 gāolǐngtǔ
Kaolin
Kaolin is a pale, refractory clay whose alumina-rich composition helps porcelain bodies retain shape at high firing temperatures.
Kaolin is often treated as a synonym for porcelain clay, but that shortcut hides the recipe. Historic Jingdezhen bodies combined kaolin with porcelain stone; the balance affected whiteness, plasticity, strength and firing behaviour.
For object reading, kaolin cannot prove where a vessel was made. It is useful as part of a chain of evidence that also includes the body recipe, kiln practice, glaze, decoration and documented provenance.
Related records
Sources and further reading
- Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites, UNESCO World Heritage Centre.Jingdezhen raw materials and the binary formula of kaolin and porcelain stone