Ever thought about what’s in your kitchen cupboard?
Annoyed with pieces that chip easily?
Why do some pieces last longer?
So let’s start with all these terms we use when we buy tableware: earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, china, ceramic, pottery. Well, just to clarify, everything that starts as a soft clay and is fired in a kiln will be ceramic, will be pottery. Any style cues these terms may inspire can be cast to one side. What was once clay, is fired to over 1000°C, is now ceramic. People will also say ‘pottery’.
How about those other labels? Well, those other terms, earthenware, stoneware etc. describe the different types of clay used to make pieces of tableware. One can get seriously nerdy about clay minerals and the types in each of descriptions (there are more!) but we don’t need to go there. Let’s go with the physical attributes to a piece of functional tableware that will influence what you buy.
Earthenware. Light, chunky, often brightly coloured and generally inexpensive. Don’t get me wrong - earthenware can be beautiful but in day to day kitchen use it will chip. You’ll probably not have it intact forever.
Stoneware. Chunky, heavy, often with more muted decoration. The pieces will last extremely well but you’ll find them heavy in the hand.
So now Porcelain. Well China, Bone China, fits into this category too. Their whitenesses differ with porcelain being greyer and bone china having a luminous pure whiteness. Their fine-ness belies their strength and bone china in particular will be used to produce pieces so fine they’ll be translucent. Don’t let that fool you into thinking it is fragile! It isn’t. The pieces will have a lightness and a fineness to them. When it comes to colour you’ll find these are traditionally mostly available as white ware. The restaurant classics, white french porcelain and English fine bone china.
So, aesthetic aside, that’s the low-down in a nut shell. There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation but if we’re going with classic looks and longevity I’d suggest the work horses in your table ware come from this last category.
