The central focus of this text on 18th-century English porcelain is the design processes that were followed in the industry. These are studied and discussed in relation to manufacturing techniques and the appearance of the figures and tablewares themselves. Other explorations of 18th-century porcelain trade include: plagiarism and industrial espionage; importation and exportation; raw materials and factory siting; and terms and conditions of employment. The text also examines the sales and marketing of English porcelain and pieces together the evidence for its consumption and use, linking these to the spread of polite culture and other changes in the social fabric of 18th-century England. Appendices give brief factory histories and a chronology of events.