Material
Stoneware
Ceramics fired at a high temperature so the clay body becomes dense, strong and only slightly porous.
- Category
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- Index letter
- S
Understanding the term
Stoneware is typically fired high enough for components of the clay to partially fuse into a dense body. It may be glazed or unglazed. Its strength makes it suitable for both functional objects and sculptural work.
Stoneware is more than the name of a raw material. It affects form, weight, surface, durability and the way an object ages, making it central to both experience and assessment.
Look for variation in colour and texture, joins, wear and later repairs. Natural evidence of making and age should be distinguished from damage; that distinction is essential when describing older art and design.
Related entries
Continue through the glossary with terms from the same field.