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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have not known bone china is made from actual bones?

147 replies

LiIo · 14/08/2022 23:20

Genuinely just found this out tonight. I hope I don’t sound stupid but I’m genuinely surprised. I mean it makes sense given the name but still…!

OP posts:
Dwrcegin · 15/08/2022 07:15

Oh hell, I knew about the fertiliser but the tea set too!

Memyselfandfood · 15/08/2022 07:26

I also did not know!

GenderCriticalTrumpets · 15/08/2022 07:29

But what bones! I never knew this. Mumsnet educating me again - first the fact that peppers are all the same, the colour changes with the ripeness and now bone cups!

BarbaraofSeville · 15/08/2022 07:32

forinborin · 15/08/2022 07:07

Radium, I think. Uranium would be too difficult for mass production.

OP, there's a surprising number of things that you would never think are animal derived. Pigments and solvents used in fine art are often of animal (and very unsavoury) origins.

No, it's uranium. But radium was used in a lot of watches and other dials.

Anyway, back to the bone china and vegans, I see a distinction between meat and use of bones like this, because the bones would be a by product, and there's probably a lot more spare bones than are used in china production, animals aren't raised with the primary aim of their bones being used in china, and this application probably doesn't increase the demand for farming animals.

It's fine that any vegans choose not to use bone china, but those who are vegan for environmental, not animal welfare reasons, don't have an argument against bone china, quite the opposite.

wheredidIleavemystyle · 15/08/2022 07:54

Those of you who think it's gross, you do know Haribo and similar chewy sweets are made out of bones?

Ylvamoon · 15/08/2022 08:01

I didn't read the whole thread but if I am repeating then so be it.

I can trump the whole thing with the knowledge of antique bone China ... it's made from bones that have been digested by dogs / cats... they had kids collecting the white poo off the streets.

So basically gret grandma's irreplaceable bone China cups are made from dog shit & bones.

Ylvamoon · 15/08/2022 08:05

@wheredidIleavemystyle - I know, gelatine is made by boiling bones for a long time.

And those of you who are into old books (say pre 1950's or there abouts) ... the glue used for binding is made from boiled hooves and horns. If you go to a library, with lots of antique books, that sweetish smell comes from the glue.

Pleiades2020 · 15/08/2022 08:27

It was a slight shock when I found this out a few years ago. Like mince pies used to be made with actual mince. And...shock horror...a lot of the cheese and onion pasties you buy in Cornwall use lard in the pastry and aren't in fact vegetarian.

rightonthyme · 15/08/2022 08:52

I learned this very recently (about two months ago) from the book Bone China haha. I was also shocked!

cormorant5 · 15/08/2022 09:04

It is for facts like this that kids should go to school and pay attention to science subjects. Not skive off and gossip about 'celebs' or how tight you shorts can be and avoid camel-toe.

PoxyAndIKnowIt · 15/08/2022 09:04

sashh · 15/08/2022 07:07

You are OK with that.

There is a story that I don't think is true, of a US baby food manufacturer that tried to sell baby food in Africa (this is why I think it is untrue, you would start with one country not a huge continent) and people were used to the can having a picture of the food, and the information was in English but it didn't sell due to people thinking it was made of baby.

Show quote history

Of course it's not true! Racist rubbish.

worriedniece · 15/08/2022 12:52

What?!

SheeWeee · 15/08/2022 12:59

TheGetaway · 15/08/2022 06:35

Not fine actually

True vegans don’t drink from bone china cups, use feather pillows, wear wool etc etc

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Who decided they are the only "true vegans"? You?

Because an awful lot of vegans would entirely disagree with you.

MercurialMonday · 15/08/2022 13:14

I think I knew this but I grew up near the potteries - enough to visit a few times and do tours see workings get taught stuff about them in school.

However as a child our treat pack lunch meat was tongue ie sliced lunch tongue. Wasn't till I watched some historical cooking program boiling a tongue and going through processing I clicked it was actually a tongue. Still tastes good.

Oddly similar treat for DH was Haslet - which first encountered with I was very wary of wonder what was in it - suspecting unsavory things - when actually it's more usual meat items bread and herbs.

BirdWatch · 15/08/2022 19:26

My family thinks I am weird, but I really enjoy tea/coffee more from a china cup.

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:31

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 15/08/2022 00:03

Bone char is often used to make sugar white.
Not all companies but many do.

Not in UK. Sugar is vegan in UK, not in US

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:38

I think it makes a massive difference, but I like a China mug.

PoxyAndIKnowIt · 15/08/2022 19:42

SheeWeee · 15/08/2022 12:59

Who decided they are the only "true vegans"? You?

Because an awful lot of vegans would entirely disagree with you.

Show quote history

No idea if I count as a true vegan, but I will continue to use the leather, feather, wool and bone china stuff I’ve owned for years rather than junk it and replace it with synthetic stuff, which would be frankly a bit wankerish and less ethical than just using it. Not to mention environmentally unfriendly.

Cocoatheclown · 15/08/2022 19:45

@SheeWeee
"Who decided they are the only "true vegans"? You?
Because an awful lot of vegans would entirely disagree with you."

Some vegans are just vegans in the dietary sense - others eschew all animal products.

Unforgettablefire · 15/08/2022 19:55

wheredidIleavemystyle · 15/08/2022 07:54

Those of you who think it's gross, you do know Haribo and similar chewy sweets are made out of bones?

Yea gelatine. Boiled down bones and sinews 🤮 used to live marshmallows but I can't bring myself to eat anything with animal gelatine in it.

TheGetaway · 16/08/2022 10:53

I’m confused about posters replying to @SheeWeee when I think she was only responding to my post. 🫤

I’m happy to clarify any comments I made

SheeWeee · 16/08/2022 11:01

Cocoatheclown · 15/08/2022 19:45

@SheeWeee
"Who decided they are the only "true vegans"? You?
Because an awful lot of vegans would entirely disagree with you."

Some vegans are just vegans in the dietary sense - others eschew all animal products.

Yes, I know.What would make you think I am unaware of that?

TeacupDrama · 16/08/2022 11:02

just to let those you like the taste of tea in bone china but don't want to use it as not vegan, porcelain does not use bone
porcelain is very fine when held up to the light you should be able to see your fingers through it
porcelain is one dimensional strong it will break if dropped but if you hold it in you hands and try to break it by pushing the sides of the plate towards the middle it won't break ie you can't compress it which is why it is used for dental crowns

Dotjones · 16/08/2022 11:04

Cocoatheclown · 15/08/2022 19:45

@SheeWeee
"Who decided they are the only "true vegans"? You?
Because an awful lot of vegans would entirely disagree with you."

Some vegans are just vegans in the dietary sense - others eschew all animal products.

Yes there are a lot of semi-vegans who don't mind using animal products if they're not actually eating them. Eg bank notes, car tyres etc.

HRTQueen · 16/08/2022 11:05

I only knew about this as I looked up why tea tastes better from a bone China cup or mug (it’s something to do with keeping it the same heat for longer)

but it definitely does taste better

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