Also known as white granite ware, stone china, and hotel ware. An early type of glass made with lead oxide and resulted in clear or white appearance. Virtually all pearlware was decorated in some form, either in under glazed enameling, transfer printing, edge decoration, or annular banding. Pearlware was replaced on the market by less expensive and harder whitewares by the 1830s. Soft porcelain is not as vitreous as hard porcelain.
Hard porcelain is somewhat translucent and soft is opaque.
Hardness can vary, but generally has one of the softest types of paste of the earthenwares. Found on archaeological sites in Iowa that date from the 1830s to 1890s. A raised, sometimes hand painted and often sculpted, design around plate rims. Often mottled, colorful design applied with a sponge or spattered on with a brush. May cover entire surface or frame a designed area.