Types of Clay

I learnt about the different types of clay and out of curiousity, dug up some information about the various types of clay. I nearly got buried by the information. There is a huge variety available, and you can even concoct your own custom blend of clay body. Mixing your own custom blend will require a lot of testing but you will be able to create your own unique effect. However, it is important to get your foundations right first before you start playing around. So not to digress too much, I'll narrow it back down to the types of clay mainly used in the pottery studio. Below is a general breakdown:
Earthenware: Garden pots are usually made out of red earthenware because of its porous quality. They can be glazed to be made waterproof for use in the kitchen. Red earthenware is the least expensive type of clay. White earthenware is costlier, but the finished product is ideal as tablewares or for decoration.

Stoneware: Has an gritty texture to it and like what its name suggests, it is dense and hard like stone when fired. It is basically stronger than the other clay types.


Porcelain: Porcelain are dense and vitreous when fired and they may even be translucent and glass-like if they are thin enough. They are commonly used to make dinnerware.