Why was Dr. John Wall’s porcelain recipe such a big deal for tea wares?

Tea and coffee services required porcelain that could withstand boiling water without cracking or breaking. The Royal Worcester Museum credits Dr. John Wall with perfecting the recipe for porcelain that could withstand boiling water and attributes this breakthrough to the early glory of the Worcester factory. This practical advantage helped the Worcester factory compete in a market shaped by imported Asian porcelain and the growing demand for British tea products. For today's collector, this story is important less as a romance than as a context, early Worcesterware was designed for use, but surviving examples are often fragile after centuries of use. If you have early Worcester cups or bowls, keep them away from sudden heat or cold and in a safe place, as restoration and cracking can greatly reduce their collector appeal.