Porcelain

Sometimes I think of porcelain as the king of clay bodies. The clay fine artists use. But I'm wrong, it just sounds fancy. Porcelain does tend to be more commonly used by established ceramicists than beginners. It's likely because it requires a much higher firing temperature  to mature than other clay types, from 1,300 to 1,800 degrees Celsius, and can be challenging to work with.

Porcelain is defined by its high silica, alumina, sodium and potassium content that creates a bright white clay that vitrifies so well when fired it often becomes translucent. If you hold a ceramic piece to the light (as long as it isn't covered with an opaque glaze) and at least a little light passes through, you have porcelain. Since it is also quite strong, it can be used to make thin, lightweight work like fine china.

Its high firing temperature opens porcelain builders up to glaze effects that can only be achieved in extreme heat. It also presents artists with unique challenges. It is sensitive to drying conditions; a freshly made piece must dry very slowly to prevent stress cracks. It is prone to warping in the kiln, so much that some artists take advantage of this quality by firing pieces upside down and allowing them to stretch, and it shrinks, a lot. It is more expensive to buy raw porcelain, and more expensive to fire. Knowing all of that though, it's worth it. A potter who uses porcelain's qualities to best effect undoubtedly creates beautiful things.