Stoneware is one of the three principal ceramic clay bodies, alongside earthenware and porcelain. Fired at high temperatures, it produces a dense, strong, non-porous body that is durable and well suited to everyday use. Its name reflects its character: stoneware is hard, stone-like and exceptionally robust.
Stoneware has been the workhorse of contemporary studio pottery for much of the last century, valued for its strength, its versatility and the rich, subtle glazes it supports.
What makes stoneware distinctive
Stoneware is fired at high temperatures, typically between 1200 and 1300 degrees Celsius. At this heat the clay vitrifies – the particles fuse into a dense, glass-like body that is strong and non-porous even before glazing. This makes stoneware durable, water-resistant and suitable for functional ware that will be used daily.
Stoneware clays are often grey, buff or brown in their fired state, and their slightly textured character suits the muted, geological glazes that high-temperature firing produces – the tenmokus, celadons and ash glazes long associated with studio pottery.
Stoneware in contemporary practice
Stoneware became central to twentieth-century studio pottery, in part through the influence of Bernard Leach and the Anglo-Oriental tradition he helped establish in Britain. Its strength and the subtlety of high-fired glazes made it the natural choice for makers seeking both function and beauty.
Today, stoneware remains the most widely used clay body in contemporary ceramics. It suits everything from robust functional tableware to ambitious sculptural work, and supports an enormous range of glaze and surface effects.
Living with stoneware
Glazed stoneware is durable, water-resistant and generally suitable for everyday use, including, unless the maker advises otherwise, the dishwasher. Its robustness makes it ideal for tableware intended to be handled and enjoyed daily, not just displayed.
At Byard Art, our ceramics collection includes stoneware from contemporary British makers, spanning domestic, decorative and sculptural work.
