Types of Pottery

Pottery, shaped with clay and then fired, has been around since prehistoric times to improve human living conditions. It is most commonly used for cooking and storage but it can also be used for decorative purposes, such as vases or serving dishes. Pottery is generally made in one of three ways: thrown on a potter’s wheel, molded by hand without mechanical aids or formed with liquid clay using molds. Its most distinctive property is its plasticity, which allows it to be molded into various shapes, and that it hardens, or shrinks considerably, during firing. During firing, chemical reactions also make the clay body impervious to water, which can cause it to crumble.

The most common pottery types are stoneware, earthenware and porcelain. Stoneware is made by heating raw materials, usually including kaolin clay, to temperatures that produce a vitrified material with relatively high strength and durability. Porcelain is made by heating materials, typically including kaolin clay, to even higher temperatures. The translucence and smoothness of this type of pottery come from the formation of a mineral known as mullite at these temperatures.

Pottery is generally made of either red or brown clay, but a variety of colors and glazes are available. Most of the glazed pottery sold in stores is slipcasted, which means it is produced by mixing raw clay with other materials and pouring the mixture into a form. Handmade pottery is often considered to be of a higher quality than store-bought slipcasted items.