Developed in China from Han-dynasty high-fired wares into white, translucent Sui and Tang porcelains and perfected at Jingdezhen, it was first replicated in Europe at Meissen in the early 18th century.
Kiln firing at 1,200–1,400 °C vitrifies the feldspathic flux into glass and precipitates interlocking mullite needles, making the body completely impermeable even before glazing.
Beyond tableware and art, its high dielectric strength and acid resistance make hard-paste porcelain a staple for high-voltage power-line insulators, laboratory crucibles, and dental crowns.