Petuntse

What the word means

Petuntse — an older Western transcription of 白墩子 — should not be understood as a separate mineral species. The term refers historically to prepared porcelain-making material derived from processed porcelain stone and formed into compact cakes or bricks for transport and use.

From rock to usable material

Porcelain stone was crushed, levigated and purified with water before the refined material was dewatered and prepared for the workshop. Historical observers described these prepared cakes as an essential commodity within Jingdezhen’s specialised production system.

Why distinguish it from porcelain stone?

Porcelain Stone describes the geological raw material. Petuntse is useful here as a window into how that raw material was processed, traded and prepared for porcelain production.