A history of cultures, traditions and symbolisms that go far beyond its use as a food container: porcelain tableware tells a heritage of knowledge and wisdom. Learning about its origin and meaning in the world’s cultures makes this material an even more noble and valued tool in all the kitchens of top chefs. Let’s not stop at appearances: porcelain has much to communicate.
The origins of porcelain and tableware
Porcelain was first produced in China around 600 AD, after a refinement of the technique to make a mixture of clay and various minerals whiter and whiter, initiated by the Shang dynasty from 1600 to 1046 BC. It then spread to other East Asian countries, such as Korea, where there are records from 1100, and to Japan, reached in 1500. The transformation of simple, earthy raw materials into precious white, finely decorated objects also inevitably fascinated Europe, which began importing porcelain in 1100 as a rare and very expensive good. By the 15th century it was a must for the tables of the nobility and the decorations of the finest homes. While the production of European hard-paste porcelain dates back to the 1700s, after the introduction of the soft-paste version, then an attempt to discover the production secrets of this white jewel kept in the East.
The history of porcelain is unquestionably linked in large part to that of tableware. It begins with a simple spoon, whose origins are said to date back to Ancient Egypt: made of wood, stone, ivory, and flint, featuring religious symbols and hieroglyphics. Even back then there was an aesthetic taste that saw these utensils also used as decorations, as well as for consuming food. Clay tableware has an ancient history: the earliest tableware, bowls and “plates” date back to Ancient Greece. They decorated dishes, too, with mythological scenes and depictions of everyday life. While the Romans painted intricate designs combined with precious metals. Time travel comes to France, with the turn of Louis XIV. The Sun King left his mark by setting standards for court life that included the use of coordinated sets of fine tableware for special events and everyday use.
From tradition to innovation in Ghisa, porcelain surprises and fascinates every era
Porcelain for everyone: the modern style of dinnerware
If before the Industrial Revolution porcelain tableware was patronage of the nobility and a symbol of opulence, by the early 1900s new production methods made tableware more affordable thanks to falling prices. Not only that, porcelain became increasingly strong, durable and versatile. An endless possibility of colors, shapes and decorations now gave way to artistic expression beyond the practical purpose of increasingly elaborate food containers.
No longer offering only white tableware, that much sought-after color in the past, but baking dishes, soup plates and salad bowls are colored in vast hues to choose from to accompany the chef in the representation of his or her idea of cooking. Black, blue, yellow, red and orange make their way into all types of kitchens and contribute to original and creative presentations, straight from the oven to the restaurant table: Gastronorm Gourmet is MPS’s line of porcelain baking dishes for professionals seeking simple modernity without neglecting aesthetic appeal. Brushstrokes of color echo the handcrafted style of antique porcelain in a modern key to emphasize the skill of the masters of the art: each piece In Handpainted line is never the same just to accentuate the skill of the workmanship. Not only of the porcelain, but also of the chef, who will choose the tableware that most reflects it.
Materials have also evolved, without forgetting their roots. Not only porcelain, but stoneware and cast iron, which innovate classic tableware to become design complements. Materials with a unique charm and distinctive features that make them perfect for all kinds of culinary styles. The Stoneware line breathes tradition, with welcoming and enveloping colors for less formal restaurants, but also for more minimalist concepts, thanks to the hint of essentiality given by the “rough stone” effect conveyed by pans, bowls, pots and cake plates. Unparalleled elegance also in the matte black effect of the items in Ghisa line, a union of strength and grace that surprises all diners. Trays, finger food containers, specific dishes for each course, salad bowls and baking dishes seem so distant from the ancestor porcelain born in China, yet they have in common the skillful pursuit of craftsmanship with the goal, primary, of serving delicacies, without ever neglecting refinement.
The style of modern porcelain tableware also includes bright colors, such as Gastronorm Gourmet
The values of porcelain between past and present
A porcelain item embodies much more than food courses. In some cases it becomes a true symbol. For example, in China, where it originated, it played a key role representing its development and, for a long time, the exclusive ownership of the secret to produce it. It was a gift exchanged between nobles and the emblem of wealth. While Chinese and Korean influence is significant in Japan, the tradition associated with the tea ceremony, during which a porcelain bowl is used, is also important, and is passed down from generation to generation, along with other objects made of this precious material. In Europe, too, porcelain was considered an icon of wealth and prestige and was very popular in royal families and aristocratic circles. Sets of dinnerware were used for grand occasions with elaborate decorations found on all kinds of items. From the Mediterranean to the Middle East, porcelain often represented moments of celebration, including religious ones, while from Italy came majolica and colors that had a meaning of unity and celebration.
Today the denotation of exclusivity of porcelain tableware has faded, but in every culture they still symbolize a lot. So although, for example, in China a round container may be considered to represent heaven, while a square one the earth, in its concrete reliability, there is one thing that unites all people who use porcelain tableware accessories: the expression of creativity. That’s right because even though the arrangement of bowls and chopsticks must be precise when presenting sushi in Japan, there remains plenty of room for the chef’s flair. Even when it is something repetitive, seemingly without deep meaning, everything hides a hint of skillful originality. Choosing one type of tableware over another, combining ingredients to create a delicious and innovative dish, and placing each layer and garnish according to the imagination of the moment or after careful study. The unique texture of Porcellana ardesia can inspire new combinations and matching of colors, textures, and shapes. Standard-sized plates and risers that are guardians of new harmonies. All this is an artistic act, which anyone who prepares food shares on a porcelain container.
Artistic representation: Handpainted line
A glimpse into the future, knowing the past
With such a solemn history and equally evocative meanings, Porcelain items offer a glimpse into traditions and beliefs from around the world. We at MPS Porcelain pick up the baton left by previous generations, aware that we are working on and renewing a masterpiece that has such ancient origins, capable of reminding us each time of the power of food to unite different people and build such varied values, bonds and stories. It is not just design that meets the needs of professionals, it is not just a mixture of the best raw materials, it is shaping new memories.
