Earthenware is fired lowest and stays porous. Stoneware is denser and sturdy. Porcelain uses a refined body that fires to a fully vitrified, glass-like state with very low absorption.
“Ceramic” covers a wide family. The three you’ll meet most often at the table are earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The differences come down to what the clay is made of and how far it is fired.
| Earthenware | Stoneware | Porcelain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay body | Common clays, often with iron | Denser clays | Refined, kaolin-based |
| Firing | Lowest | High | High, to full vitrification |
| Body | Porous | Dense, often partly vitrified | Fully vitrified |
| Water absorption | High | Low | Very low |
| If the glaze chips | Absorbs readily | Some absorption | Very little absorption |
| Typical use | Decorative, casual ware | Casual dining, artisanal | Hotels, fine dining, gifting |
These are typical characteristics. Firing ranges for stoneware and porcelain overlap, and results vary with each maker’s recipe.
Earthenware
The oldest of the three, fired at lower temperatures. It is often warm in colour and relatively soft. Without its glaze it is porous, so once the glaze is damaged it can soak up moisture and odours.
Stoneware
Fired hotter and denser than earthenware. It is sturdy, often heavier, and popular for casual and artisanal tableware. Many stoneware bodies are partly vitrified.
Porcelain
Made from a refined body built on kaolin and fired until it vitrifies fully. It is hard, dense and absorbs very little water. That is why hotels and restaurants rely on it. VITRO porcelain is fired at approximately 1,250°C.
Three ways to tell at a glance
- Check the foot ring. Look at the unglazed ring on the base. Porcelain is usually smooth, fine and white. Earthenware tends to be coarse and coloured.
- Try a drop of water on that unglazed area. A porous body darkens or soaks it up. A vitrified body leaves it sitting on the surface.
- Hold thin pieces to the light. Thin porcelain can show a slight translucency. Stoneware and earthenware stay opaque.
None of these is a lab test, but together they tell you a lot.
