Ceramics are one of the oldest forms of dinnerware known to man, even prehistoric man ate of ceramic dinnerware. A ceramic is simply a material that is made from clay that has been mixed with water and then heated in the kiln. Despite its long history we really haven't come with anything better to eat off of and ceramic dinnerware remains in wide use. There are a number of different types of ceramic dinnerware available so there are a number of decisions that need to be made when you are choosing dinnerware.
In most cases the choice of ceramic dinnerware is made based on it's appearance. People will usually select their dinnerware in order to match the decor of their kitchen. In other cases they will choose dinnerware in order to serve a certain type of food. There are however other factors that you are going to want to take into consideration when making your selection.
There are a number of different types of ceramics available when it comes to dinnerware and there is a huge variation in price and quality between them. Frequently dinnerware comes without a label even telling you what kind of ceramic is used, if this is the case you can usually assume it is one of the cheaper, lower quality types.
At the bottom end of the market is terracotta, followed by stoneware, and earthenware. These are all relatively inexpensive types of ceramic and they have the disadvantage of being quite fragile, they will break quite easily. In order to get around this problem manufacturers usually make dinnerware of this type thicker and heavier. At the top end of the market is bone china and porcelain, these are much stronger ceramics and therefore much finer dinnerware can be made with them. Porcelain and bone china are usually thin enough that they are translucent, that is they allow light through them.
It is becoming more and more common to find dinnerware made from ceramics that aren't actually made from clay. Modern ceramics are frequently made by mixing a plastic with water and firing it in a kiln. These types of ceramics have a number of advantages to them, they are very durable and the can be made in any colour. It is also much easier to decorate them so they can be made with real designs. Despite all of their advantage many people don't consider them to be ceramic dinnerware.
Another consideration when you are choosing your ceramic dinnerware is whether or not it contains lead. Most of the cheaper types will have lead in them, most people prefer dinnerware that is lead free. Dinnerware that is lead free will be clearly labelled as such. You will also want to consider whether or not your dinnerware is dishwasher safe, again if it is this will be clearly marked on the label.