One of the oldest and most popular types of art and craft is pottery. It involves molding, shaping, and firing clay at a high temperature in order to produce useful or ornamental things. Earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain clay are the three basic forms of clay used in pottery. Each type of clay has unique qualities and traits that influence how it looks, lasts, and is used.
The most popular and traditional type of clay used in pottery is earthenware. It is a soft, porous clay with a low firing temperature that is simple to deal with. Earthenware is less durable than stoneware or porcelain because it is often fired at temperatures between 1,000 and 1,150 degrees Celsius. However, compared to other forms of clay, earthenware is also more reasonably priced and adaptable, making it a preferred material for both new and seasoned potters.
A form of clay called stoneware is more robust and long-lasting than earthenware. It is heated up during the firing process to a higher temperature, often between 1,200 and 1,300 degrees Celsius, which renders it less porous and increases its durability. In addition to being more adaptable than earthenware, stoneware enables potters to produce a larger variety of shapes and designs. However, working with stoneware is more challenging than working with earthenware, and it takes more expertise and experience to get the necessary results.
The most refined and delicate sort of clay used in pottery is porcelain. It is a very hot clay that is often burned between 1,300 and 1,400 degrees Celsius. It is hard, dense, and translucent. The pristine white color, silky smoothness, and delicate appearance of porcelain are well known. It is also the priciest and most challenging sort of clay to deal with, necessitating a high level of expertise and experience to achieve products of the highest caliber.
Regarding this, common ceramics are items created from clay that has undergone high-temperature firing to produce a hard, long-lasting substance. Traditional ceramics and advanced ceramics are the two primary divisions of ceramics. Pottery, bricks, and tiles are examples of traditional ceramics, whereas zirconia, alumina, and silicon carbide are examples of advanced ceramics.
Additionally, the history and culture of ceramics in the Philippines are extensive. The nation is renowned for its age-old pottery traditions, which are handed down from parent to child. Filipino potters create useful and beautiful items like bowls, plates, jars, and figures out of a wide range of clay types, including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.
Another concern is the usage of potter’s clay in the creation of pottery. It is a type of natural clay that is discovered in the earth and is made up of several minerals like feldspar, quartz, and kaolin. In order to make a workable clay body that can be molded and moulded into different forms, potter’s clay is typically combined with water and other substances, including sand or grog.
Finally, the type of clay used and the firing temperature affect the color of the pottery. Stoneware can be gray, brown, or beige, but earthenware is typically red or brown in color. Porcelain is typically completely white, though glazes or dyes can be used to tint it. The glazes employed, which can produce a vast range of colors and designs, can also have an impact on the color of pottery.
Around 20,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic era, pottery production began.