What Is the Difference Between Porcelain & Ironstone?

Ceramics

• Ceramics describes the broad category of items made from clay that are fired to become hard and durable. This includes porous earthenware, stoneware and porcelain as well as ceramic tiles and farmhouse sinks. Stoneware is a general name given to most non-porcelain ceramics. The type of ceramic made in any area is dictated by the type of clay available. Red clay is plentiful in Italy, giving rise to terra-cotta wares. Tan clay in Japan became porous Satsuma earthenware. In China, white kaolin was made into porcelain.

Porcelain

• Porcelain is distinguished from all other ceramics by its hardness, resilience and translucence. Kaolin, a fine white clay, is mixed with ground petuntse, a clear, glassy mineral. When potted and fired at high temperatures, the petuntse melts and surrounds the koalin particles, forming a unified, vitreous object. This glassy quality gives porcelain two of its most cherished qualities: its resonance -- it rings when tapped -- and its translucence. In English-speaking countries, porcelain is often called china because of its Chinese origin.

Ironstone

• Ironstone was a new stoneware product introduced by Charles James Mason in Staffordshire, England, in 1813. Mason claimed Ironstone was harder than earthenware and stronger than porcelain. The name suggested strength and durability. It contained none of the mineral ironstone and only naturally occurring trace amounts of iron. Called at various times Mason's Ironstone China or Ironstone Porcelain, it is not true porcelain. The marketing strategy worked, and Ironstone became a hit for Mason. Many pottery companies were quick to copy Mason's product after his patent expired.

Purchasing Porcelain

• Porcelain, old or new, is available at antiques stores, flea markets, department stores and thrift stores. The finest Chinese porcelain pieces demand extraordinary prices as newly rich Chinese buyers scour the West to retrieve their cultural heritage. If you're looking for Asian or western porcelain to collect and display, look for hand-painted pieces that are well done and free of damage. Choose quality over size and quantity. If you're looking for dinnerware, choose new or old sets that are attractive and damage-free. Dinnerware that has gold trim cannot be put in the microwave.

Purchasing Ironstone

• Ironstone is abundantly available at antiques stores and flea markets because it was widely popular in the United States. Ironstone is usually plain white or transfer-printed in attractive monochrome designs and marked with the maker and country of origin. Look for pieces that are in good condition without chips or cracks. Early pieces in good condition are often pricey, but a lot of ironstone from the late 19th and early 20th centuries is very reasonable.