Secret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2
May 6, 2026
1 hr 1 min
6
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7 of 13
Episode 6 · May 6, 2026
Secret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2
0:00 / 1:01:27
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Heni Talks Episodes Around May 6, 2026
Episode 7 of 13 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
1:01:27This episodeSecret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2
Summary
How did an alchemist discover the recipe for porcelain? And why did his discovery ultimately drive him mad? Join Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene as they pick up the story of Europe’s obsession with porcelain and the race to discover its secret formula. Stranger than fiction this is another great story in the history of ceramics.
Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include:
King Augustus II the Strong, 1670–1733
Johann Friedrich Böttger, 1682–1719
Friedrich Zorn, 1711–89
King Frederick I of Prussia, 1657–1713
Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, 1651–1708
Plate, Circa 1730–35, Meissen Manufactory
Courtesy of The Met Collection
Vase with cover, 1725, Meissen Manufactory
Courtesy of The Met Collection
Vase, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory
Courtesy of The Met Collection
Tea caddy, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory
To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Race for Porcelain Continues
00:02:21 Augustus the Strong: The Porcelain-Obsessed Ruler
00:06:37 Enter Johann Friedrich Böttger: The Young Alchemist
00:12:11 The Fateful Demonstration and Escape to Saxony
00:15:12 Imprisoned by Augustus: The Gold House Laboratory
00:19:13 Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus: The Scientific Mind
00:20:44 Dark Days: Failed Promises and Attempted Escape
00:28:41 The Turning Point: Discovery of Kaolin
00:31:41 The Breakthrough: Creating European Porcelain
00:41:46 Freedom and Legacy: Böttger's Final Years
00:44:51 The Ironic Twist: China's Secrets Revealed
Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.