CHINAWARE, a name given to a hard, translucent pottery. (For UNITED STATES CHINAWARE see p. 554.) Earthenware is sometimes quite thin, and it is a common error not to discriminate between this and the ware which is properly called china. A simple test for china is its translucency, which allows the outline of a finger to be seen if held between a piece of ware and the light. Another and more accurate test is that of applying red ink to the ware under the glaze. If the ink is absorbed, then it is considered that the ware is not china. A por tion of the glaze must be thoroughly removed before the ink can be applied.
The actual meaning of "vitrified" causes some trouble and the following is the definition: "Vitrified pottery is non—porous; un vitrified pottery is porous." "Vitrified china" has been defined as follows : "Vitrified china is glazed chinaware having a white body and burned to such a temperature that a dense, practically non-absorbent body is produced." "Practically" is a much abused adverb, and one is left wondering whether or not a slightly ab sorbent ware with a white body would pass as "vitrified." Porcelain, which may be regarded as synonymous with china, is not easily defined in scientific terms, for several specimens of ware, which may be correctly regarded as true porcelain, will vary in actual composition. Dr. J. W. Mellor, F.R.S., has said that the most practical definition he could give is the following: "Porcelain is a body which in moderately thin layers is trans lucent."
