What is Stoneware?
What is Stoneware?
Stoneware is a clay that when fired to maturity becomes a sturdy, chip resistant material suitable for using in cooking, baking, storing liquids, as serving dishes and to use in the garden. These pieces are meant to be used due to their durability.
Stoneware is great for kitchen/utility pieces because it is so incredibly durable. You can use it in the oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher without harming it. Earthenware cannot withstand very high or low temperatures. You may be able to put an earthenware piece in your oven a few times, but it will eventually crack completely, stoneware will not. Have you seen a pizza or baking stone? This is made of stoneware. Since this clay is initially fired very hot, it can withstand temperature changes.
Take a look in your kitchen. What do you see? Mugs, plates, casserole dishes, platters, bowls etc. Many of these things may be made of stoneware. These pieces will either be made in earthenware (a low-fired clay) or in stoneware (a high-fired clay). Earthenware is a white and porous clay that is fired at a low temperature (about 1915 degrees Fahrenheit). (Earthenware is usually called "ceramics" or "ceramic ware".) It is then decorated, glazed with a clear coat and fired. Stoneware is a stronger clay that is fired to a high temperature (about 2185 degrees Fahrenheit) and becomes vitreous. It can then be left undecorated or decorated with colored glazes with an optional clear glaze coating and re-fired.
How can you tell the difference between stoneware and earthenware?
Pick up a piece in your kitchen (a plate, mug or bowl). Can you tell if it's stoneware, earthenware or porcelain?
First, let's find out if it's porcelain. Porcelain is translucent. (Stoneware and earthenware is not.) Put the piece up against a light. If you can see light through the piece, it's porcelain. If it's completely opaque, it's not porcelain.
Second, let's figure out if it's earthenware or stoneware:
A brief look back in time.
Traditional ceramics have so far been based on earthenware. In the very long history of ceramics, earthenware clays were used to create the early utilitarian ware, necessary for civilization. Going back more than 50,000 years, shards of earthenware help date the particular period when it was used. Stoneware and porcelain, both high firing clay bodies, arrived much later but are not really newcomers on the scene - they appeared over 2,000 years ago in China and gave birth to very important industries already in those times. It was the availability of kilns that could fire to those higher temperatures rather than the clays themselves that made China the country of origin. European and Middle East ceramics, although very advanced in decorating techniques, was limited to earthenware as they were unable to fire stoneware and porcelain to maturity.
Thank you to Seeley's Stoneware for providing the comprehensive "What is Stoneware? " information sheet.
Stoneware is a clay that when fired to maturity becomes a sturdy, chip resistant material suitable for using in cooking, baking, storing liquids, as serving dishes and to use in the garden. These pieces are meant to be used due to their durability.
Stoneware is great for kitchen/utility pieces because it is so incredibly durable. You can use it in the oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher without harming it. Earthenware cannot withstand very high or low temperatures. You may be able to put an earthenware piece in your oven a few times, but it will eventually crack completely, stoneware will not. Have you seen a pizza or baking stone? This is made of stoneware. Since this clay is initially fired very hot, it can withstand temperature changes.
Take a look in your kitchen. What do you see? Mugs, plates, casserole dishes, platters, bowls etc. Many of these things may be made of stoneware. These pieces will either be made in earthenware (a low-fired clay) or in stoneware (a high-fired clay). Earthenware is a white and porous clay that is fired at a low temperature (about 1915 degrees Fahrenheit). (Earthenware is usually called "ceramics" or "ceramic ware".) It is then decorated, glazed with a clear coat and fired. Stoneware is a stronger clay that is fired to a high temperature (about 2185 degrees Fahrenheit) and becomes vitreous. It can then be left undecorated or decorated with colored glazes with an optional clear glaze coating and re-fired.
How can you tell the difference between stoneware and earthenware?
Pick up a piece in your kitchen (a plate, mug or bowl). Can you tell if it's stoneware, earthenware or porcelain?
First, let's find out if it's porcelain. Porcelain is translucent. (Stoneware and earthenware is not.) Put the piece up against a light. If you can see light through the piece, it's porcelain. If it's completely opaque, it's not porcelain.
Second, let's figure out if it's earthenware or stoneware:
- 1. Pick up your piece and feel the weight. If it feels pretty dense for its size, that's a good sign that it's stoneware
2. Look at the bottom. Is it uncoated, undecorated or unglazed on the bottom? Can you see the ware? If you can see it and it is a buff color or darker with a texture, then it is most likely stoneware.
3. Stoneware has the "look" of hand made pottery; it has a texture to it, where earthenware does not. If you have a piece that has a chip in it, take a look at the chipped part. Is it very white and chalky looking? Can you scrape off more of the piece with your fingernail? If you can, then it is probably earthenware. Earthenware, when fired, has a white, chalky look. Stoneware, when fired, has a darker, textured look.
4. Look at your piece. Are there any parts that are unglazed? Is there a textured clay showing through? If yes, it is stoneware.
A brief look back in time.
Traditional ceramics have so far been based on earthenware. In the very long history of ceramics, earthenware clays were used to create the early utilitarian ware, necessary for civilization. Going back more than 50,000 years, shards of earthenware help date the particular period when it was used. Stoneware and porcelain, both high firing clay bodies, arrived much later but are not really newcomers on the scene - they appeared over 2,000 years ago in China and gave birth to very important industries already in those times. It was the availability of kilns that could fire to those higher temperatures rather than the clays themselves that made China the country of origin. European and Middle East ceramics, although very advanced in decorating techniques, was limited to earthenware as they were unable to fire stoneware and porcelain to maturity.
Thank you to Seeley's Stoneware for providing the comprehensive "What is Stoneware? " information sheet.
