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Here you will find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the materials used in our products. We hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions not covered here please Email us now

What is Alabastrite?
Many of our products are made with Alabastrite  a Polyresin item. Alabastrite is a stone-based material which can be intricately molded producing great detail, and will allow paint to adhere. These items may be cleaned by dusting, however, they should not be washed with water as they are painted with water soluble paints.

What is Bone China?
White clay with bone ash added. Bone ash content must be at least 25% by U. S. guidelines. Fired at 1800 degrees. The translucent material is finished with a glaze or under glaze (matte). Lighter, stronger, more expensive than porcelain.

What is Porcelain?
Fine ground white clay, molded and fired in an oven for eight hours at 1200 degrees. Finished with a glazed, under glazed, or "bisque" finish. Glazing produces a high gloss; under glaze produces a matte finish. Bisque is a matte finish without glaze. After finishing, the item is "cooked" for six hours at 800 degrees.

What is Jade Porcelain?
Jade porcelain is a type of porcelain made with a finer clay. Usually no glaze or only a colorless glaze will be applied at the final firing to show off the very smooth surface and to preserve the translucency. Example: 27112. Jade Porcelain is used for night lights because of its high degree of translucency when lit.

What is Stoneware?
White clay with fine ground stone. Working with stoneware demands great expertise, and is in fact becoming a lost art. Stoneware is safe to use in microwave and conventional ovens.

How do they make Patchwork items?
Unique fabric or paper prints are applied to the surface of porcelain, dolomite or polyresin items. After application, 12 layers of lacquer are added and the item is hand polished to a high gloss between each layer.

What is Cubic Zircon?
The most successful simulated diamond. Properties such as refraction, hardness, and specific gravity are remarkably similar to diamonds. Example: 27432. Cubic zirconia are very hard to distinguish from diamonds; sometimes a jewelers loop will be needed to see the difference.

What is Sterling Silver?
To qualify as "sterling" a given piece must be composed of a least 92.5% pure silver.

What are the Hong Tze items made of?
To closely emulate a special stone found in China which is known for its deep red color, these items are created using an alabastrite polyresin. Hong Tze pieces are highly polished, further bringing out the intense, deep red color.

Is the Frosted Acrylic actually glass?
No, but better. Acrylic items are given the French Lilac process, (used on glass), to achieve the distinctive frosted look. 

Your descriptions often mention Gypsum and Dolomite. What are those?
Gypsum is a white mineral which is usually used to make Plaster of Paris. Dolomite is a magnesia-rich, sedimentary rock resembling limestone. It is either gray, pink or white in color.