crackle china
- noun
- Antique crackle china is prized for its distinctive patterns and craftsmanship.
Examples
-
The collector displayed her favorite pieces of crackle china in the glass cabinet.
-
He inherited a set of crackle china dishes from his grandmother.
-
I bought a beautiful piece of crackle china at the antique shop.
-
The crackle china vase is a stunning addition to our collection.
-
Antique crackle china is prized for its distinctive patterns and craftsmanship.
-
He inherited a set of crackle china dishes from his grandmother.
-
The collector displayed her favorite pieces of crackle china in the glass cabinet.
Synonyms
Glazed pottery with a pattern of fine cracks on its surface
How Cracked
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'crackle' (a network of fine cracks in glaze) directly modifies 'china' (porcelain), so the compound meaning 'porcelain with a crackled glaze' is compositionally derived from its parts. This modifier+head pattern is transparent and parallels constructions in many languages (e.g., French porcelaine craquelée), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Crackle china comes from the tiny cracks - the crackle - in the shiny outer layer of the china. Potters make these fine lines on purpose to make the surface look like a web or like old, worn dishes, so the name means 'china with fine decorative cracks'.