Heading 6911 is limited to tableware and household articles made specifically of porcelain or china — a high-fired, vitrified, typically translucent ceramic. Heading 6912 covers the same categories of articles (tableware, kitchenware, household items) made from other ceramic materials such as stoneware, earthenware, or faience. The body composition of the article, not its appearance or price point, determines which heading applies.

Decoration, branding, or artistic embellishment does not change the classification of porcelain tableware — it remains in heading 6911 regardless of how elaborate the decoration is. Only articles that qualify as original works of art under the specific provisions for collectors' pieces or antiques (generally over 100 years old) would be considered for a different classification. Standard decorated dinnerware, even from luxury brands, stays in 6911.