Stoneware vs Porcelain: A Simple Guide for Pottery Lovers

If you’ve ever wondered what stoneware actually means, or why one mug feels chunky and earthy while another is fine and translucent, you’re in the right place. Here’s the difference, without the jargon.

What is stoneware?

Stoneware is fired at a high temperature (typically 1200–1300°C) until the clay becomes dense, hard and non-porous. It’s known for its durability and warmth — slightly heavier in the hand, with a tactile, characterful surface. Almost everything we make at InchyArt is high-fired stoneware, because it’s made to be used every single day.

What is porcelain?

Porcelain uses a finer, whiter clay fired even hotter. The result is delicate, smooth and often slightly translucent when held to the light. It tends to feel more formal and refined — beautiful, but generally more fragile than stoneware.

How to choose

• Want everyday, hard-wearing pieces? Stoneware is your friend — perfect for mugs, bowls and plates and family meals.
• Want something delicate and decorative? Porcelain shines for fine, display-led pieces.
• Love texture and colour? Stoneware takes glazes in rich, varied ways — it’s why our pieces have such depth of colour.

A note on “handmade”

Whichever body it’s made from, a handmade piece carries small variations — a slightly different curve, a unique pool of glaze. That’s not a flaw; it’s the signature of something made by a person, not a machine. (For keeping any piece in good shape, see our care guide.)

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Curious to see the difference in person? Browse the full collection or come and make your own at one of our Wimbledon workshops.