Stoneware

Stoneware is made from clay fired to what ceramicists refer to as "mid-range;" about 200 degrees Celsius hotter than earthenware, but not as hot as porcelain can be taken. Also, unlike earthenware, fired stoneware partially vitrifies, forming a 99% waterproof fused glass quality within the walls of the piece because of its high silica content. Stoneware is durable and makes excellent functional pottery, though it can be brittle and more susceptible to thermal shock than earthenware or fireclay.

It is also popular with potters because the high firing it can tolerate allow us to do very interesting things with glazes that only develop at higher temperatures, There is an enormous range of beautiful commercial stoneware glazes and outstanding combinations when these glazes are layered from companies like Amaco, Mayco , Coyote and Spectrum, just to name a few. Though very expensive compared to mixing glazes from raw materials, a potter can spend their entire art life exploring commercial mid-fire glazes and never get to the end of the catalogue.

While off-white pieces are common, stoneware clay comes in many forms. It can be snow white, speckled, yellow, red, grey or black, smooth or gritty. Most of my work is in white and black stoneware clays. Both are wonderful to work with on the wheel and have amazing glaze interactions, though these can present many disappointments for any potter trying to pinpoint an exact result.