| Ceramics come to be when different kinds of | | | | available in casual and formal patterns. |
| stone is ground into a fine powder, then | | | | |
| mixed with water until what results is a | | | | Another kind of ceramic is Stoneware. This is |
| paste like substance. This resulting paste is | | | | a dense kaolin, fired between 1200 -1450 |
| appropriately formed and fired in a and oven | | | | degrees to create a very porous ceramic. It's |
| called a kiln at very high temperatures until | | | | neither translucent or heavy and chips more |
| the particles of stone melt and fuse together | | | | easily than porcelain or bone china. |
| to create a strong glass like substance. | | | | Stoneware has a casual appearance and is |
| | | | generally glazed in muted earth tones. It can |
| Bone China is a very glass like, smooth, | | | | have fine detail or be rough and grainy. |
| non-porous pottery. It's made from bone ash, | | | | Stoneware is quite a bit more affordable than |
| china stone and fine china clay or kaolin. | | | | porcelain or bone china. |
| Bone china is light weight and thin, and is | | | | |
| fired at very high temperatures. You'll find | | | | Earthenware a coarse, porous pottery and |
| that bone china patterns tend to be more | | | | fired at a low temperature between 800-1000 |
| formal and despite it's delicate appearance | | | | degrees. Earthenware chips quite easily and |
| doesn't chip very easily. It has the | | | | has a casual appearance. It formed by hand |
| distinction of being the finest and most | | | | and is often glazed in bright colors. |
| expensive dishware available. | | | | |
| | | | When considering care for your ceramics you |
| Porcelain is another non-porous pottery. It's | | | | should always follow the manufacturer's |
| made from fine kaolin and is fired at more | | | | instructions. Keeping in mind that direct |
| 1250 degrees. porcelain is a translucent, | | | | heat sources can and do cause rapid changes |
| thin and light weight dishware that | | | | in temperature. These changes can cause |
| originated in China. Though it appears quite | | | | cracking. This aversion to heat means you |
| delicate it's actually stronger than | | | | should never put your antique or any fine |
| stoneware. Price wise, porcelain is generally | | | | ceramics in the dishwasher. |
| less expensive than bone china and is | | | | |