A porcelain body developed in Britain in the late 18th century, which included a large amount (up to 50%) of bone ash. This body had the advantage of being white, translucent, and durable, the latter meaning the ‘thermal shock’ of hot/cold water being applied to the body was absorbed very well. As a result, pouring hot tea into a bone-china cup was not as likely to cause thermal-shock cracking to the porcelain.