stoneware

Very hard, opaque, water resistant pottery made of non-porous (non-absorbent) clay with feldspar and a high silica content. it is fired at high temperatures (1.200-1.280'C /2.192-2.336'F) to the point of vitrification, producing a glasslike, non-porous material that is between porcelain and earthenware in character.

Stone ware usually fires to shades of grey or buff, thoug some red stonewares do exist, Glazing decorates and gives the survaces a smooth finish. The earliest examples are chinese, from the 10th to 3rd centuries BC.

From the 9th century AD stone ware was made in northern Europe, in Britain from the late 17th century.