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product, the china industry in the US Zone
has been one of the first to take orders for
export. Household and decorative china form
the bulk of the exportable ceramic-ware, but
figurines and porcelain electrical insulators
are also included.
Twenty-five ceramics plants in the US Zone
have been selected to participate in the pro-
duction program of Bavarian chinaware
totaling 1,500 tons per month, 750 tons of
which are to be of export quality. These
also provide the bulk of the ceramic-produc-
ing potential in the bizonal economic program.
The special sponges required in the ceram-
ics industry for the delicate finishing work
are of a particular species known as "ele-
phant ears." which are distinguished by their
large flat form and silky textures. A search
of the world market located the best available
source in the Mediterranean area but a cur-
rent shortage has boosted the price of these
special sponges from about 25,000 dollars
to 70,04.0 dollars a, ton.
Because the Bavarian china industry is a
"frontier industry" established along the
Czechoslovak border, many of the raw mate-
rials used in the industry were normally
supplied from Bohemia, a part of Czechoslo-
vakia. About 80 per cent of the clays come
from deposits near Karlsbad, Bohemia, in-
cluding the famous Zettlitzer kaolins that
form the basis of much of the important
';name" china manufactured on the Continent.
Since this china-clay lies outside the present
German borders, it must be purchased from
dollar funds. Already large shipments have
been ordered and delivered to the Bavarian
china industry.
Quartz, basic ingredient of the chinaware
body, is imported from Scandinavia, especial-
ly from Sweden where there are deposits of
high quality. Feldspar, another essential
ingredient, also comes from Scandanavia.
Turpentine. used in the preparation of glazes.
Household chinaware such as this comprises the largest
part of the US Zone's exportable ceramics-ware.
Photo by Bars