What To Look For A knowledge of the different materials and techniques used to produce various forms of wares may influence your approach to the field of Asian ceramics. The main division is between pottery and porcelain. Pottery is a coarse-textured ware of either earthenware or stoneware. The distinction between these two relates to the type of clay used, the firing temperature, and how porous the finished product is.
Earthenware is the most porous, while high-fired stoneware is impervious to liquids.
When the two ingredients are fired together they fuse and produce a strong and versatile form of ceramic, a process capable of producing very fine wares. This technique was not matched in the West until the 18th century. Another important technique is that of glazing pottery and porcelain. The clay used for pottery contains silica, which has a higher melting point than clay. The use of a flux reduces the melting temperature of the silica, causing it to coat the pottery and render it impermeable.