Earthenware Vs Stoneware

An interesting thing about pottery is that it is considered as a technology, as well as a form of art. Throughout human history, pottery has had a significant role. Pottery is a kind of ceramic ware which has three types; earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. People who make them are called potters. When comparing, earthenware vs stoneware, which is better, former or later? The difference between earthenware and stoneware is shown in following illustration.

What is Earthenware?
Exact formulation of the earthenware clay is difficult, because it has a tendency of varying. But there is a general composition which can be termed as earthenware.
The earthenware is composed of 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz and 15% feldspar. But this is a generic composition and it varies from maker to maker. Earthenware comes in colors as well. They are red, white and buff colored. An important difference between earthenware and stoneware is that earthenware is more porous in nature. This porosity helps the earthenware in application of the final coat of glaze on it. Before coming to that, we must understand the intermediate steps of making an earthenware ceramic.

Making of Earthenware Pottery
You will need some red clay and a pottery wheel. A beginner should always operate at slow speeds of pottery wheel. Place the mold on the wheel. Once you start the wheel, you have to smoothen the clay from all angles. This will invariably make it rounded. Now that it is rounded and smoothened, start giving a little bit of shape to the mold. After a while, you will see that the desired shape starts coming up. Once you get the shape, stop the wheel and smoothly lift the article that you have just made; and fire it up in a kiln (a kiln is like an oven). After baking this clay, the substance that comes out is called a bisque. Bisque (also known as biscuit) is a kind of ceramic ware, which is unglazed. Bisque is generally not the final product, but sometimes it can be sold or used as the final product. The biscuit is fired up to 1000ºC and then a coating of glaze is applied to it.

What is Stoneware?
Stoneware is a semi-vitreous or vitreous ceramic ware, which is much less porous than earthenware. Vitreous means 'like glass', stoneware is termed as vitreous because after it is finished, it has a distinct look of glass. Interestingly, stoneware has been named that way, because many people believe it to be a man made stone. Stoneware has strong characteristics of being as hard as stone. Stoneware is distinctly less porous than earthenware.

Making of Stoneware Pottery
Making stoneware is very similar to earthenware, but there are some key differences. First of all, stoneware can be made using a pottery wheel or it can be directly made. Once you have given shape to the clay, allow it to dry completely. Now you can apply glaze to it. Keep the article in the kiln and fire it up. Temperature is another key issue over here. Stoneware is fired up at about 1200ºC. These high temperatures are responsible for the characteristic hard finish of the stoneware.

Earthenware vs Stoneware

Attribute	Earthenware	Stoneware
Temperature of baking	1000ºC	1200ºC
Porosity	More Porous	Less Porous
Vitreous	Less Vitreous	More Vitreous
Hardness	Less Hard	More Hard

Interesting Facts About Pottery
Earthenware and stoneware are types of pottery. Hence I felt the need to tell the following interesting facts.

• Pottery is one of the oldest technologies, as well as art forms in history.
• Pot factories were known as 'Pot Banks' in late eighteenth century
• People who worked in such pot banks were known as 'The Potteries'.
• The largest Football club in the English city of stoke on Trent are known as 'The Potters'. (The city once had the largest number of pot factories.)

I hope that the above comparison between 'earthenware vs stoneware' has shed some light on their differences. Be it earthenware or stoneware, both make some beautiful kitchenware. On this note, I sign off.