« What is dinnerware made of ? – or Dinnerware 101 | Home | Redware or Terra Cotta is a type of Earthenware »
What is Earthenware dinnerware and its pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses?
By admin | February 5, 2009
What is Earthenware?
There are 2 basic definitions, depending on whom you go to for the information.
The history of ceramics would say:
Earthenware is a relatively soft, porous body that would not contain liquids without a glaze.
The ceramic and dinnerware industry would say:
Earthenware is any pottery body which, when fired, has a porosity of more than five percent. In other words, the body consists of more than 5% water.
Historically, Earthenware was fired at a relatively low temperatures, in the range of 1,000 to 1,200 degrees C, or usually the ware was fired below 2,012 Fahrenheit.
The common procedure for identifying earthenwares is by touching the tongue to the paste or an unglazed portion of the earthenware body. If the surface feels sticky, then it is earthenware.
Pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses of Earthware
Cons and weaknesses
Due to the lower firing temperature, earthenware bodies are:
- not as dense as a high-fired ceramic
- have higher porosity and absorb water more easily than other ceramics
- Due to its higher porosity, earthenware must be glazed in order to be water-resistant.
- not as durable as a high-fired body
- not as resistant to chipping and breaking as a high-fired body
Pros and strengths
Compared to other ceramics, Earthenware:
- is lighter in weight due to less density
- can be decorated with brighter-colored glazes, due to the lower firing temperatures.
- can be less costly (this is also dependent upon the amount and type of decoration on the earthenware and the whiteness of the earthenware body)
Earthenware is most frequently made in the form of containers, dinnerware, and table service items.
There are seven basic variations in the earthenware body recognized by most historians and the ceramic industry:
Topics: Dinnerware information, Register for dinnerware, earthenware | 1 Comment »
June 28th, 2010 at 3:32 am
this post is very usefull thx!