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