HARMONY ON THE TABLE: PORCELAIN DINNERWARE IN USE

Abstract

For many years, both in Europe and in Turkey porcelain dinnerware was identified with wealth and aristocracy. Today porcelain is an indispensable material for tableware products. While the production methods and technologies were developed, new clay deposits were discovered, and the knowledge about material are widespread; porcelain products became reachable for any consumer in any market for a broad range of price. Consequently, the meaning of the material and product has evolved. Beyond mentioning the symbolic meaning of porcelain dinnerware or semiotic significance of ownership, this paper attempts to draw a map in order to understand how porcelain dinnerware fit into existing ways of life, frameworks of meaning, and contexts of practice of Turkish family.