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What is Stoneware?
 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.
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.
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.
Differences in an undecorated piece of stoneware and earthenware:
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Stoneware
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Earthenware (ceramic ware)
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Impervious to water (water tight)
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Not impervious to water (cannot hold water)
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Chip resistant
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Chips easily
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Color: Buff or terra cotta
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Color: white
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Feel: textured
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Feel: chalky
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Look: like pottery
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Look: rough white
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Looks great undecorated or decorated.
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Can only use when decorated.
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Can withstand high/low temp.
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Cannot withstand high/low temp.
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Oven safe
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Not oven safe
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Suited for household use.
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Suited for decorative use
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Painting bisque: Wipe off mistakes.
Glazes flow: bisque isnot porous
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Painting bisque: Cannot correct
mistakesGlazes adheres to bisque: bisque is porous
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Firing: Leave the bottom of the piece dry
and place on shelf
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Paint or glaze the bottom of the piece and
stilt on shelf.
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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.
Stoneware slip is made up of a mixture of high-firing clays that fire to maturity at 2118 –
2284 degrees Fahrenheit or 1159 – 1251 degrees Celsius. It behaves more or less like earthenware (ceramic slip) both in casting and firing (except for the temperature). A ceramist
comfortable with earthenware can make the transition to stoneware with little added instruction. The decorating is, in many respects, easier, as you can wipe off mistakes in
painting without a trace and start over or just correct.
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.
Similarities of stoneware and earthenware:
- Casts in any plaster mold.
- Paint on greenware or bisque.
- Paint with any underglaze, glaze, hybrid (Duncan's Concepts), stain or decal to decorate.
- Clean by traditional methods (dry or wet).
- Perfect for "fun" decorating!
- Microwave an dishwasher safe.
For more information on how you can have FUN with Stoneware,
contact Seeley's.
Seeley's
P.O. Box 669
118 Commerce Road
Oneonta, NY 13820
Tel: (607) 433-1240 or (800) 433-1191
Fax: (607) 432-2042
Email: stoneware@seeleys.com
or see Seeley's or Duncan Ceramics websites for more info
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