What 3 Types Of Pottery Are There?

Pottery is clay that has been fashioned into various types of vessels, figurines, and other objects that are then fired at high temperatures in a kiln to harden the clay. Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions, originating before the Neolithic period, with the oldest known pottery vessels dating back over 10,000 years ago. The earliest pottery was made by hand and was often simple and functional in design. As civilizations developed, pottery became more advanced and was used for storing, serving, and cooking food, as well as for religious and artistic purposes. Pottery allowed early societies to store and transport water, food, and other goods more effectively. The history and development of pottery gives archaeologists insights into the lifestyles, values, and technological advancements of ancient cultures around the world.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottery

Earthenware

Earthenware is pottery that is fired at lower temperatures, typically between 1,000 and 1,150°C (1,830 and 2,100°F). It is porous and can absorb water (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthenware). Earthenware is made from clay bodies containing clay minerals such as kaolinite, montmorillonite-smectite, and illite. The clay contains silica and alumina as the main ingredients along with other compounds. Feldspar and quartz constitute the other raw materials in clay bodies (Source: https://emersoncreekpottery.com/what-is-earthenware/).

The lower firing temperature allows earthenware to retain colors better, but it’s more fragile than stoneware and porcelain. Glazes are often applied to earthenware to make it less porous and give it a glassier surface. Earthenware has an earthy color palette and rustic look. It’s used for pots, dishes, vases, and decorative items. The absorbency makes unglazed earthenware suitable for flower pots, bakeware, and cooking pots.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a vitrified or semi-vitrified ceramic made from clay that has been fired at high temperatures between 2,100°F and 2,372°F. It is denser and more durable than earthenware due to the higher firing temperatures. Stoneware clay becomes nonporous and watertight at these high firing temperatures which makes stoneware pieces suitable for items that hold liquids like mugs, bowls, and vases. Unlike earthenware, stoneware does not need an added glaze to become impermeable.

Some key characteristics of stoneware are:

• Harder and denser than earthenware due to higher firing temperatures.
• Impermeable and nonporous so it holds liquids without seepage.
• Often has visible specks from iron content in the clay.
• Can be left unglazed or finished with colored glazes.

Common items made from stoneware clay include crockery, jugs, pots, cups and mugs. It is an excellent material choice for kitchenware and other functional items.

Porcelain

Porcelain is made from kaolin clay, which is usually white when undecorated. According to Wikipedia, “Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400 °C (2,200 and 2,600 °F)”. Porcelain is known for its strength, translucence and whiteness. It is highly vitrified, which makes it impermeable to water. Porcelain was invented in China and was extremely expensive and rare when it was first introduced to Europe in the 16th century.

Compared to other types of pottery, porcelain is made from kaolin clay while regular ceramic pottery uses earthenware clay. Porcelain also requires extremely high firing temperatures, which result in a hard, dense finished product. The high kaolin content gives porcelain its bright white color and translucence.

Terracotta

Terracotta pottery is known for its characteristic reddish-orange color. The clay used to make terracotta contains high levels of iron oxide, which gives it this distinct hue when fired at high temperatures. According to Wikipedia, “Terracotta, terra cotta or terra-cotta, a type of earthenware, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic, where the fired body is porous.”

The porosity of terracotta makes it an ideal material for plant pots and flower pots, as it allows air and water to pass through. As noted by Livetrends, “The natural breathability of terracotta helps to limit issues like root rot.” Terracotta pots are permeable so they can absorb moisture from the soil and allow excess water to evaporate through the pores. This creates an ideal moisture balance for healthy plants.

In addition to plant pots, terracotta has been used since ancient times to create sculptures, tiles, bricks and decorative objects. The ancient Romans produced large quantities of terracotta reliefs and statues, as noted in the Wikipedia article on terracotta. Over thousands of years, craftspeople around the world have shaped terracotta clay into both functional and artistic creations.

Raku

Raku is a traditional Japanese style of handbuilt pottery that involves removing pots from the kiln while they are still glowing hot and placing them into containers with combustible materials like sawdust or leaves. This process is called raku firing and produces distinctive crackled and blackened surfaces on the pottery.

According to What Is Raku Firing And How Does It Work? from Soul Ceramics (https://www.soulceramics.com/pages/raku-firing), raku originated in 16th century Japan during the Momoyama period. Japanese potters originally developed raku for use in the Japanese tea ceremony. The unpredictable patterns and natural aesthetic of raku pots complemented the rustic style of the tea ceremony.

Raku ware is traditionally handbuilt from coils or slabs, rather than thrown on the potter’s wheel. Pots are bisque fired, then glazed and placed in the raku kiln for the specialized raku firing process. When removed from the kiln, the pots are usually placed in a container with combustible materials to react with the hot glaze and create the characteristic raku finishes.

Majolica

Majolica is a type of pottery that is characterized by its tin-glazed finish and bright colors. According to the Wikipedia article on Majolica, majolica first came to Italy from Spain in the mid-15th century. It was made using a tin-glaze process that gave it a white glaze finish that served as a background for brightly colored decoration.

Italian majolica in particular became known for vivid designs featuring portraits, allegorical scenes, and ornate patterns. As explained in an article from Rau Antiques, the bright colors and detailed designs of Italian majolica made it highly desirable and collectible. The distinctive look of majolica comes from applying colored glazes and enamels over the tin-glazed white background. This allows for intricate designs in vibrant hues.

Majolica is heavier and thicker than some other types of pottery due to the layers of glaze required to achieve its signature look. The colors and designs vary by region and artistic style, but majolica is recognizable for its luminous, decorative colors applied over bright white glaze.

Slipware

Slipware refers to pottery that has been decorated using liquid clay slip. Slip is made from clay mixed with water to form a thick, creamy liquid consistency. The slip is then trailed, splattered, or painted onto the surface of unfired pottery to add decoration and color. When fired, the areas covered in slip take on a glossy sheen compared to the bare clay body.

Slipware has its origins in medieval Europe, but became especially popular in England during the 17th and 18th centuries. Staffordshire potters developed their own regional style of decorating earthenware pots with slip, often in bold splashes, dots, and stripes. Designs were freehand, giving slipware an improvised, handmade look. Common motifs included floral patterns and animals. Lead glazing was also used along with slip for decorative color effects.

Some key features of traditional English slipware from the Staffordshire potteries are:

• Earthenware clay body covered with white or red slip
• Freehand brushed slip decorations with trailing and splattering
• Designs include flowers, dots, stripes, and animals
• Bold, improvised style showing the potter’s hand
• Clear lead glaze accents over the slip

Today, slipware continues to be made around the world by studio potters who value its handcrafted, rustic qualities. The spontaneous freehand designs and rich colored slips make each piece unique.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipware

https://www.britannica.com/art/slipware

Jasperware

Jasperware, sometimes called “wedgwood jasperware”, refers to a type of pottery first developed in the 1770s by Josiah Wedgwood ^[1]. Jasperware is an unglazed stoneware decorated with white bas-relief motifs, originally in blue but later other colors. The matte finish and blue-and-white color scheme became iconic for the Wedgwood company.

The signature finish of jasperware is the contrast between the unglazed matte “biscuit” body and the glossy raised decoration. The decoration is most often in white, appliquéd onto colored backgrounds in various hues of blue, lilac, yellow, black, and sage green. The white reliefs are created using a paste containing barium sulfate. After applying to leather-hard greenware, this matures to a slightly off-white color during firing. Later Wedgwood wares could have jasper decorations in other contrasting colors like black, yellow or red.

Jasperware’s distinctive blue hue came about from use of cobalt oxide in the clay body, though manganese was used for lilac jasper. The matte finish is achieved through absence of a glaze ^[2]. Jasperware motifs draw inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art, often mythical figures or ancient rituals.

Conclusion

In summary, the three main types of pottery are earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Earthenware is made from clay, water and a flux and is fired at lower temperatures, making it more porous. Stoneware is denser and fired at higher temperatures, making it less porous and more durable for daily use. Porcelain is made from kaolin clay and is fired at the highest temperatures, giving it a vitreous, glass-like quality that is hardest and most impermeable to liquid. While other specialty types exist, these three encompass the majority of pottery produced worldwide.