The words Stoneware and Earthenware can be used interchangeably as if they are the same materials. The truth is that they are not the same material.

Earthenware is an iron-rich clay that is fired at much lower temperatures than stoneware. Earthenware will often have an orange color or cast to it due to its iron content. Stoneware is fired at a higher temperature than earthenware and is used a lot to manufacture tableware.

About Earthenware

Earthenware is an iron-rich clay that can also be a bit crumbly. It is fired at a relatively low temperature of 1300 degrees F to 2120 degrees F.

As earthenware is porous can also break quite easily, but that can be a trade-off as earthenware has some unique and beautiful finishes that only earthenware can do.

Because earthenware is fired at a low temperature, it can create vibrant colors and can have some very vibrant colored natural bodies.

Earthenware is one of the most popular types of clay that has been used throughout history. Archaeologists have found Earthenware that was developed 25,000 to 29,000 years ago. 

Because it is a low fire type of clay, it is one of the most popular clays but has been used throughout the history of humankind.

Earthenware’s clay can typically mold easier as it has higher plasticity.  Earthenware is not a naturally watertight clay, but you can put a glaze on it to make it more watertight. This makes Earthenware a poor choice for dinnerware or items that need to hold water.

Earthenware is the preferred material for a lot of outdoor planters. This is because you can get some unique finishes with it, and the fact that it is less watertight does not matter for outdoor usage.

As Earthenware has some unique finishes, it is also a great choice to be used for Home decor objects that do not need to be watertight.

The main drawback of Earthenware is that it can break easily, so many people prefer to have ceramic or stoneware material used for decorative objects.

About Stoneware

Stoneware is the material you will see in a lot of dinnerware production. Stoneware is more complex and denser than Earthenware as it is fired at a higher temperature around 2100° to 2372° F.

Some stoneware can retain some particles and even oxidize to give a texture look or appeal. When it comes to firing temperatures, between stoneware, earthenware, and even porcelain stoneware is in the middle of these three types of materials.

Because of its unique character, stoneware can be mixed with other minerals that will be melted and added to it to give it a color or sparkle, such as dark specks throughout the clay. 

Because stoneware is such a versatile clay, many potters prefer to use stoneware.

Stoneware is usually the preferred material for dinnerware and indoor planters that need to be watertight.

Differences Between Stoneware and Earthenware

It can be confusing is to tell the difference between whether a piece of pottery is Earthenware or Stoneware. There are some ways that you can try to identify the differences:

Clay Color

One way to tell the difference between Earthenware and Stoneware is to look at the clay color. If your clay has a reddish color or almost terra-cotta kind of clay, it should be classified as Earthenware.

Coarser Grains

You were looking at the raw clay between stoneware and earthenware, and you can find that the earthenware clay will have a coat course or more grain than the stoneware clay. Stoneware clay will have denser and more refined grains and less plasticity when compared to Earthenware.

Water Absorption Test

As we mentioned before, Earthenware does not handle water very well because it is a porous clay. If you have two pieces of pottery and you are not sure which one is Stoneware or Earthenware, you can do a simple test with water.

If you dip both in water, then calculate the water absorption rate. Any piece with a 5 to 8% absorption figure is likely Earthenware. In other words, if you see the water going into the clay, it should more than likely be an earthenware peace.

Here is how you can do a simple water absorption test:

• Record the original weight of each piece completely dry.
• Soak each of the pieces in water for at least a day.
• Bring the pieces out of the water and record the weight.
• To check the absorption rate, you can divide the starting weight by the new weight and multiply it by 100. This will give you the absorption percent.

If you dip both in water, then calculate the water absorption rate. Any piece with a 5 to 8% absorption figure is likely Earthenware. In other words, if you see the water going into the clay, it is more than likely be an earthenware material.

If you see no absorption or very little, it is more than likely Stoneware or even porcelain.

As a note, some earthenware can get damaged if put in water for too long, so make sure if you are doing this test that is a piece that either you do not mind if it is damaged or you use a piece that you know will not get damaged.

Whether you want to use Stoneware or the Earthenware material for your home decor or home furnishing product will depend upon how you use it and what type of glaze you want to have as your final design and look.

Find out more about how Mondoro can help you create, develop, and manufacture excellent home decor and home furniture products – including earthenware or stoneware – don’t hesitate to contact me, Anita. Check out my email by clicking here or become a part of our community and join our newsletter by clicking here.

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