Ceramics Types - Paul Bohanna Antiques

Ceramics Types

There are a vast range of ceramics types, in fact far too many to hope to describe them all here. In the following sub-pages I have described some of the better known and one or two of the less well known types of (mainly) British pottery. I have also described a few catagories of special interest to collectors, such as moneyboxes, flasks and inkwells. The aim here is simply to share a little knowledge with those who may be interested. I fully appreciate that a great many of the visitors to this website will already be fully conversant with the information offered here and many will have much deeper knowledge than I. Nevertheless I hope that some at least will find these pages useful. I also hope that any of my mistakes will be (gently) pointed out so that I can correct them and keep learning and maybe even help spread a little appreciation for British ceramics. If you are able to provide evidence or reliable citations for corrections, that would always be very much welcomed.

Each ceramic type described here also includes an image gallery of relevant pots that I have sold or owned, which I hope may be of interest and possibly even helpful for study and research purposes. I will try and add to these on an on-going basis to improve their usefulness.
Some of the photos are scans from old 35mm film photos which are not ideal quality, my apologies.

Please appreciate that all images and text on this website are protected by copyright ©. If you choose to download or share my content on social media then please do not remove my copyright notice. I would also prefer it if you asked me first (I’m unlikely to say no for non-commercial use). If you wish to use any of my content for any commercial purpose whatsoever (e.g. to publish in any form or use on your website etc.) you must first obtain my written consent. I can provide high quality originals upon request (please see my Services page).

Black Basalt

Black basalt, also known as Egyptian Black, is a black-bodied low-fired stoneware. It occurs in both dry-bodied (un-glazed) form and also with a clear glaze...

Creamware

Creamware or cream-coloured ware is a cream to pale yellow light-coloured earthenware that has a clear lead glaze. The glaze may show a greenish yellow tinge of colour where it pools.

Earthenware (Country Pottery)

Earthenware includes non-industrial pottery usually associated with small country potteries. The output was mostly plain functional ware which served local (usually rural) communities.

Felspathic Stoneware

Felspathic (or feldspathic) stoneware refers to a unique group of stonewares which are generally white and include feldspar in the body.

Ceramic Spirits Flasks

Earthenware and stoneware flasks were usually made to hold spirits, but some of the ‘ring’ (or ‘hole’) flasks and other highly figural flasks may have been simply ornamental.

Ceramic Inkwells & Pen Holders

Ceramic inkwells, pen rests and pen holders are a specialist area of collecting. Whilst many porcelain examples are fairly common, earthenware and stoneware inkwells are generally much rarer.

Jackfield (Black-glazed Earthenwares)

‘Jackfield’ ware refers to black-glazed earthenwares, usually with red or dark clay bodies. They are named after the location in Shropshire where such wares are known to have been made during the C18th.

Lustreware

Lustreware (or lustre ware), is a form of decoration achieved using various salts of metal oxides to create a range of coloured metallic effects on top of lead-glazed earthenwares.

Moneyboxes / Coin Banks

Ceramic moneyboxes have been produced in many countries worldwide and often for many centuries. Most examples date from the mid C19th to the early C20th and later.

Pearlware

Pearlware describes white earthenware which has been whitened further by the addition of flint and white china clay within the body.

Salt-Glazed Stoneware

Salt-glazing is a technique whereby damp salt is added to the kiln during the firing (through the firebox or vents) at a point above 1200 degrees C.

Other Stonewares

There are a wide variety of other stonewares that were not salt-glazed. These include dry-bodied wares (i.e. without any glaze) as well as ‘smear-glazed’ (or ‘vapour-glazed’) wares.

Treacleware (or ‘Rockingham’ glaze ware)

Treacleware, or ‘Rockingham’ brown-glazed ware, includes a wide number of variations. They are earthenwares that have a brown glaze that is generally fluid and translucent to some degree.

Yellow Transfer Printed Brownware (YTPBW)

Yellow Transfer Printed Brownware is the less than snappy name that describes a ware that used to be referred to as ‘Portobello ware’.

Other Ceramics Types

There are a vast variety of ceramic types and sub-types. This is a brief description of a few of the main other types.