Earthenware

People make many things from clay.

This is called earthenware. It can be red or white.

Some clay is called terracotta. It is often orange or red. People use it for flower pots.

Earthenware can soak up water. To stop this, makers add a glaze. A glaze is a smooth coating. It makes the clay hold water well.

People use it for many things. It can be a tea cup.

It can also be a pretty statue.

Artists have made earthenware for a long time. It is a very old craft. Do you like clay art?

Earthenware is a type of pottery made from clay.

It is often fired at lower heat than other ceramics. This makes it easy to shape on a potter's wheel. People call some red earthenware terracotta. This type is often used for flower pots and tiles.

Because it is porous, earthenware can soak up liquids. To fix this, makers add a glaze. A glaze is a smooth coating that makes the clay watertight. This helps people use it for tea cups.

In South Asia, people use disposable earthenware cups called kulhars.

Artists have used earthenware for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans made many things with it. Some pieces are very special. The Yixian glazed pottery luohans are large, life-size statues. Other artists made colorful pieces called majolica. One famous maker, Mintons, even made a life-size peacock.

Earthenware is a part of history found all over the world.

Earthenware is a special kind of pottery made from clay.

It is a very old way to make things people use every day. Most earthenware is fired at lower temperatures than other ceramics. This makes the clay easy to shape on a potter's wheel. Many people call red earthenware terracotta.

This type is often used for flower pots, tiles, or even oven ware. It is a very important part of art and home life.

Making earthenware involves a few important steps. First, makers use selected clays. They sometimes mix these clays with minerals like feldspar. A common recipe uses 25% kaolin and 25% ball clay. They also add 35% quartz and 15% feldspar to the mix.

Because this clay is porous, it can soak up water. To make it watertight, makers add a ceramic glaze. This glaze is a smooth coating that covers the surface. It allows people to use the pottery for drinking tea.

People have been making earthenware for a very long time. Pit fired earthenware dates back to as early as 29,000–25,000 BC. For many thousands of years, it was the only type of pottery made. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it for many different items. In Egypt and Persia, people also made many things from it.

Even in China, artists used it to make beautiful painted figures. It has been a part of human history across the whole world.

There are many famous and beautiful examples of earthenware. The Yixian glazed pottery luohans from the Liao dynasty are life-size statues. Another amazing piece is a life-size majolica peacock made by Mintons. In the 18th century, Wedgwood made fine creamware in England. This creamware was so good it could compete with expensive porcelain. Some pieces, like the Saint-Porchaire ware, were made for the French court.

Earthenware has even been used for things inside our homes. In the 19th century, it was used to make indoor flush toilets.

Makers like Twyford and Doulton made these items. They often used a white glaze on the inside to keep them clean. They sometimes added blue-and-white prints to make them look like fine furniture. This helped people feel more comfortable with indoor plumbing. Today, we still see the influence of these old traditions in our homes.

Earthenware is a type of nonvitreous pottery that is either glazed or unglazed.

It is defined by being fired at relatively low temperatures. Unlike porcelain or stoneware, earthenware does not undergo vitrification, which is the process of turning into a glass-like substance. This means the finished body remains porous and can absorb liquids like water. Because of this, most modern domestic earthenware is coated with a ceramic glaze to make it watertight.

This material has been essential for making tableware, decorative figurines, and building materials for thousands of years.

Creating earthenware begins with selecting specific clays and minerals. A common contemporary formulation includes 25% kaolin, 25% ball clay, 35% quartz, and 15% feldspar. These materials provide high plasticity, which makes the clay easier to shape. Artists can use a potter's wheel, a roller-head, or a RAM press to form the object.

Once shaped, the piece is fired in a kiln. Modern production often involves two stages. First, it may undergo a biscuit firing between 900°C and 1050°C. Then, it may undergo a glost firing, or glaze firing, between 1000°C and 1150°C. The atmosphere in the kiln also affects the final color. Firing in an oxidising atmosphere often results in red colors for iron-rich bodies. Conversely, a reducing atmosphere can produce darker colors like black.

Earthenware can be categorized by its appearance and use. Terracotta is a common type of dark, reddish-orange earthenware. This color comes from a high content of iron oxides in the clay. It is widely used for flower pots, tiles, and oven ware. Other types include majolica, which is a type of tin-glazed pottery. There is also lusterware, which features iridescent glazes, and Raku. Some materials, like ironstone china, exist on the border between earthenware and stoneware. These distinctions depend on the clay composition and the temperature of the firing.

History shows that earthenware was the primary form of pottery for much of human existence. Pit-fired earthenware dates back as far as 29,000–25,000 BC. For millennia, it was the only type of pottery being produced. Significant historical traditions include the pottery of Egypt, Persia, and the Near East. Ancient Greek and Roman cultures relied heavily on earthenware for their vessels. In East Asia, porcelain was not manufactured at scale until the 18th century AD. Before that time, earthenware was the standard for most ceramic needs across the globe.

The significance of earthenware is seen in its massive scale of use. It comprises nearly all European pottery produced up to the seventeenth century. It also includes most building bricks used in construction. In the 18th century, technical improvements in England allowed for the creation of fine wares. Wedgwood produced creamware, which was so high in quality it successfully competed with porcelain. This was demonstrated by his massive Frog Service created for Catherine the Great. Later, the invention of transfer printing made decorated earthenware affordable for many more people.

Many highly complex and artistic examples of earthenware exist. The Yixian glazed pottery luohans from the Liao dynasty are life-size figures. Another remarkable example is the Saint-Porchaire ware from the mid-16th century.

In the 1860s, Mintons created life-size majolica peacocks that are considered highly important. These pieces show how earthenware can reach incredible levels of detail and beauty.

Earthenware also played a major role in the history of indoor sanitation. During the 19th century, glazed earthenware was the primary material for early indoor flush toilets.

Manufacturers like Twyford and Doulton produced these fixtures. They often used a "cane and white" finish to ensure durability. This meant the exterior stayed a natural buff color while the interior had a white glaze. This white glaze was necessary to keep the bowls hygienic. However, earthenware had technical weaknesses for this job. The body could chip easily, and the porous nature could eventually absorb moisture and odors. This led to a later shift toward more dense materials like vitreous china.