Terra Cotta vs. Ceramic

Terra Cotta Basics

• Clay is cast or molded by hand and fired above a fire or in a kiln. After terra cotta is fired it is usually covered with sand and allowed to cool slowly. Terra cotta can also be glazed. Glazed terra cotta retains its brownish orange color, which is caused by iron in the clay.

Terra Cotta Uses

• Rustic, natural-appearing terra cotta is commonly made into inexpensive pots for plants. The natural porosity of terracotta soaks up water that helps keep plants from drying out. The porosity also gives plant roots necessary air. Terracotta pots are thin and brittle. Heavier terra cotta tiles, glazed to give them matte, satin and gloss finishes, are frequently used to cover the floors of kitchens, children’s rooms and family rooms. They are also used to make roof tiles. Glazed terra cotta is often made into pipes that carry water and sewage. It is also made into oil lamps, tableware and decoration for the exteriors of buildings in the tropics.

Ceramics Basics

• Ceramics are made from clay fired at high temperatures. There are two kinds of whiteware, the ceramic most often encountered in everyday use. Stoneware, white and with a gloss or sheen, is watertight and chips easily. It can withstand both high and low temperatures. Earthenware, buff or the color of terra cotta is not watertight and does not chip easily. It cannot stand heat or freezing. Hard, brittle porcelain is made from kaolin, white clay originally found in China. Bone China is translucent porcelain made of kaolin, bone ash and feldspar. Modern ceramics for special industrial and technical uses are made from tungsten carbide and silicon carbide.

Ceramics Uses

• Glazed stoneware is commonly made into cups, plates, bowls, vases and tiles used on the floors and walls of kitchens and bathrooms. It is also made into laboratory and electrical equipment. Stoneware resists chipping and can be used in an oven or microwave or put in the refrigerator. It is also made into planting pots, but porous terra cotta is generally preferred. Earthenware, one of the oldest ceramics, is porous and needs to be glazed to be watertight. It chips easily and is most made into decorative vases and plates. It cannot be put in an oven and is not suitable for everyday kitchen use.