What is the difference between earthenware, terra cotta, stoneware, porcelain, and raku clay?
Earthenware, terra cotta, stoneware, porcelain, and raku clay are different types of claybodies. Earthenware is a clay body that is fired to a low temperature (approximately 1000 C or 1800 F). The resulting material is still very porous so it will absorb water or even leak if not glazed. Terra cotta is generally used to mean a red earthenware. Stoneware is a generally buff, tan, or brown clay which is matures at high enough temperature (approximately 1200 C or 2200 F) to form a dense ceramic having a low porosity and which will not leak, even if unglazed. Porcelain is a very white clay body which is fired to the point of becoming almost totally vitreous (glassy) so it is translucent when thin. You will often see almost any white clay body referred to as porcelain but many are better termed white stoneware. True porcelain is fired to cone 9 to 12 (see below). Raku clay is a clay body designed to take the stress of raku firing process. Raku clay typically is white and contains a lot of s
