What is pottery? What is porcelain? The difference between pottery and porcelain

The works handled at nokaze - House of Pottery and Stories - can be broadly divided into pottery, porcelain, and glassware, each of which has its own unique characteristics. It is important to understand the differences between pottery and porcelain when maintaining them.

Characteristics of pottery

Pottery is mainly made from clay (approximately 10% feldspar, 40% silica, and 50% clay), and has a rough texture and the warmth of natural earth. It is highly absorbent and can change in a fascinating way with use, which is one of the joys of using pottery. Compared to porcelain, clay has a lower density and tends to absorb water easily during daily use , so care is required immediately after purchase and attention is required to avoid stains, odors, and mold during daily use.

However, the more care you take in maintaining your pottery, the longer it can be used, and the more you can enjoy watching the changes in the appearance of the pottery itself . It is traditional Japanese tableware, and by understanding how to maintain it, you can add color to your Japanese dining table.

Representative types of pottery include Mashiko ware, Bizen ware, Seto ware, Karatsu ware, Mino ware, Tokoname ware, Shigaraki ware, and Hagi ware.

Porcelain properties

On the other hand, porcelain is made from stones (feldspar and pottery stone) (roughly It is made of 30% feldspar, 40% silica, and 30% clay, and is fired at a higher temperature than ceramics, so the material is hard and strong, and it is hard and has almost no water absorption. Therefore, it is a "tableware" that requires little maintenance, and there is no need to worry about odors or color transfer. It is thin and easy to use on an everyday basis.

Representative types of porcelain include Arita ware (Imari ware), Kutani ware, Tobe ware, and Hasami ware.

The difference between pottery and porcelain

The basic differences between pottery and porcelain are as follows. Microwave, dishwasher and oven compatibility may vary depending on the item . At nokaze - House of Pottery and Stories -, if possible, there is a card in the product description on the online shop to inform you of the compatibility when purchasing in store, so please refer to it.

What to do immediately after purchasing pottery

In order to use your purchased ceramics for a long time, it is important to take proper care of them from the early stages. As mentioned earlier, ceramics in particular are highly absorbent, so maintenance immediately after purchase will allow you to enjoy beautiful ceramics for a long time, so maintenance is essential.

If you are purchasing porcelain, There is no need to worry about the smell or color of food transferring to the pan, so there is no need to do any special care when you first start using it. Therefore, you can skip this section.

Maintenance immediately after purchasing ceramics: sealing treatment

Ceramics are coarse and absorbent, so they tend to get dirty and stained easily. Therefore, to prevent stains from accumulating after you start using the product, we recommend that you perform a maintenance process called "sealing" by soaking the product in water immediately after purchase.

The process of sealing ceramics to reduce their water absorption prevents water and oil from penetrating into the interior. This helps prevent odors and stains, and helps maintain the beauty of the ceramic.

Also, by sealing the porcelain first, you can prevent cracks in the pottery.

<How to seal>

1. In a large pot, pottery and Pour enough rice water to cover the pottery , place on low heat, and heat until it boils . *If you don't have rice water, you can also use plenty of water with about 2 tablespoons of wheat flour or potato starch instead of rice water.
   
   
2. Once it boils, turn off the heat and let it cool. When it is cool enough that you can remove the pottery with your hands , remove it and wash it with water to remove the slime.
   
   
3. Then dry thoroughly until all water is gone.

<Points to note when sealing Kohiki works>

The name Kohiki comes from the fact that it is "white as powdered," and is a dish-making technique that was originally created to make brown pottery look white.

Kohiki is easily soaked in water, and water stains can appear as spots when soaked in water. Spot-like patterns can also appear during the "sealing" process, but this is a characteristic of Kohiki and will usually disappear when it dries, so there is no need to worry. Even if it does not disappear, the color is also a unique feature and characteristic of the piece, so please use it with peace of mind.

Similarly, if you put colored food in it, it will easily get dirty and smelly, so just like with the "eye sealer," it's a good idea to soak it in water for a while before using it, especially when serving dark colored foods. Also, wash it immediately after use and dry it well before putting it back in the cupboard.

<Examples of Kohiki Works>

Daily maintenance of pottery and porcelain

<Before cooking> A little trick every time you use pottery

Because absorbent pottery (especially the aforementioned Kohiki) is highly absorbent, the appearance of the "tableware" changes little by little after use due to the color of the food and dirt on it. This change in appearance is one of the joys of enjoying "tableware," but if you want to prevent dirt and stains as much as possible, it is said that it is best to soak the tableware in water for about 5 minutes before each use . There is no need to soak magnets in water.

<Cooking> Precautions when using microwave ovens and ovens

Generally, porcelain can be used in a microwave oven. Some ceramics can be used, but they are highly water-absorbent, so if they are heated with moisture remaining in them, the moisture will cause the base material to expand , damaging the ceramic and, in the worst case, causing it to crack.

In addition, regardless of whether it is pottery or porcelain, items painted with metallic glazes or with metal edges, Do not use a microwave oven as it may cause sparks.

Also, ovens can only be used if the material is made from heat-resistant clay, so be sure to check with each artist to see if they can use one.

<Table of correspondence between artists handled by nokaze - House of Pottery and Stories ->

<After cooking> Tips on how to wash pottery and porcelain carefully

Proper washing methods and what not to do

<Proper washing method>

Wash ceramics and porcelain gently with a soft sponge and mild dishwashing detergent , making sure to rinse off any dirt thoroughly. If you do not rinse thoroughly, dirt and detergent may remain on the ceramic and cause stains. It is important to dry thoroughly after washing.

<Washing methods you should avoid>

The following washing methods can damage highly absorbent ceramic and porcelain items or cause stains, so try to avoid them as much as possible.

• If you soak ceramic items for a long period of time, they will absorb the dirt and cause mold and stains. When washing ceramic items, wash each piece one at a time and dry them immediately.
  
  
• Using a hard sponge or metal scrubbing pad may scratch the surface of the dish, so try to use a soft sponge if possible.

Precautions when using a dishwasher

If you put dishes in the dishwasher, they may move during washing or collide with each other, which can lead to breakage or cracks. As mentioned above, some artists make their dishes dishwasher safe, but to use them for a long time, we would appreciate it if you could wash them by hand if possible.

<After cooking> Proper storage method for pottery and porcelain

It is best to store it after it has completely dried.

After use, please dry it completely before storing it . If moisture remains, it can cause mold and deterioration. Please note that ceramics, which are particularly absorbent, can become moldy and stained if not dried completely. Also, store it in a low-humidity place away from direct sunlight.

Designed to store items in layers to prevent damage

To prevent ceramics from touching each other directly, place a cloth or paper between them to prevent scratches. Depending on the ceramics, scratches may occur due to roughness of the surface or collisions when stacked, so it is a good idea to lay down kitchen paper.

What to do when problems occur with pottery and porcelain

When using pottery or porcelain, no matter how hard you try to maintain it, problems such as stains, odors, and mold can occur. In that case, there is a possibility that the problem can be solved by taking the appropriate solution, so try it right away. Even if the problem is not solved, you can feel better by thinking that one more piece of your "dish"'s personality has been added! Think of stains and dirt as part of the dish's personality and enjoy the expression of your "dish."

If you have a stain on your ceramics...

If you notice stains on the surface of ceramics or crazing (crack-like patterns), soak it in bleach as soon as possible. The same goes for tea stains and mold. After soaking, gently wash the stain off with a soft sponge, rinse well, and dry completely.

Please note that if the stain has penetrated the surface and is now embedded in the soil, it will unfortunately be very difficult to remove. Also, bleach may remove the color from colored ceramics or porcelain, so test it on an inconspicuous area first.

If your ceramics have an odor...

Put the ceramics in water with a small amount of tea leaves or baking soda and lemon juice, and boil it 2-3 times. If the smell still doesn't go away, soak it in water with baking soda dissolved in it for half a day to a day. After that, dry it in the sun .

After boiling or soaking in baking soda, rinse immediately and allow to dry completely.

If your ceramic is chipped...

Even if a piece of tableware you like is chipped, you still want to use it. Repairing a chipped piece of tableware and continuing to use it is one way to enjoy tableware.

If a piece of pottery has chipped, one way to continue using it is to avoid injury by sanding the chipped area, but to add more character to the pottery, we recommend "kintsugi" (gold repair).

Kintsugi is a technique that involves repairing cracked or chipped parts with lacquer and finishing with sprinklings of gold or silver, allowing you to give your own pottery a new look.

You can request this service from a specialist store, but in recent years, the number of places offering Kintsugi experiences has increased, so we recommend it as it is a lot of fun to add expression yourself and it will make you feel even more attached to your own pottery.

This concludes how to maintain ceramics. Please enjoy maintaining your own "pottery" and watching its appearance change, without overdoing it.

Finally, we will tell you how to maintain your glassware.

How to properly maintain glassware

Glassware is characterized by its beautiful transparency, but it is also delicate and prone to breakage. Finally, we will explain how to care for your glassware so that you can enjoy it for a long time.

<Cooking> Be careful of temperature differences when cooking.

When using glassware, the first thing you need to be careful of is temperature differences. If you immediately place hot food on a cold glassware, the sudden temperature difference can cause the glass to break.

If you are serving hot food, we recommend warming the glassware with lukewarm water beforehand.

Regarding use in microwaves and ovens, general heat-resistant glass is microwave and oven safe, but as each artist's work is different, please check as much as possible, and if you are unable to be sure, avoid using it.

<After cooking> Tips on how to wash glassware carefully

The basic way to wash it is by hand. As with ceramics, do not use cleansers or scrubbing pads as they can cause scratches. Instead, wash gently with a soft sponge and neutral dishwashing detergent.

Glass is sensitive to temperature changes. It is weak to high temperatures, so using hot water can cause it to break. On the other hand, washing it with cold water will make it harder to remove dirt, so the best temperature is around 40 degrees.

<After cooking> How to properly store glassware

Once polished, place on a soft cloth to air dry and then store. When storing, stacking the plates can cause delicate glassware to bump into each other and become scratched or cracked. As with ceramics, it is important to take precautions when stacking plates, such as placing kitchen paper between them to create a cushion.

With proper care, ceramics and glassware can be used for a long time while maintaining their beauty. And by using them for a long time, you can enjoy the changes in the appearance of the "dishes". By properly understanding the characteristics of ceramics, porcelain, and glassware and practicing the correct care methods, you can enjoy your precious dishes for a long time.