Earthenware is the earliest clay used and is fired to temperatures below which threshold?

• A. Below 1200 C
• B. Below 800 C
• C. Below 1500 C
• D. Below 1800 C

Answer: (A)

Earthenware is a low-fire ceramic. By firing at relatively modest temperatures, typically under 1200°C, the clay body doesn’t vitrify completely, leaving it porous unless it is glazed. This low-temperature range distinguishes earthenware from stoneware and porcelain, which require higher firing temperatures to achieve vitrification. That’s why the correct threshold is below 1200°C—the point at which earthenware sits in the low-fire category. The other options imply temperatures that are too low or too high for earthenware’s standard firing range.