Studio pottery can be divided in three main groups:

Earthenware
Earthenware is the term used to describe pottery fired at low temperatures, between 900°C and 1150°C.The body is porous and a glaze is required in order to make waterproof vessels. Earthenware has reduced mechanical strength calling for thicker wall construction. Glazes form a film on the surface of the pots as opposed to stoneware glazes, which form a unity with the body. As most pigments do not withstand higher temperatures, a wider palette of bright colours is available to earthenware than stoneware. Fayence and Maiolica are earthenware, as is most painted ware. This was the first type of pottery ever made, dating back to 12'000 years ago, making it one of men's oldest activities.

Stoneware
Type of pottery fired at temperatures ranging from 1150°C to 1400°C. At these temperatures, vitrification occurs, leaving a non-porous body with great mechanical strength. Glazes interact with the body and do not necessarily need to be waterproof, therefore dry, matte finishes are possible. A reduced palette is available to the potter working with stoneware, but effects of great beauty in subtle shades are possible. The first examples of stoneware were made in China 2000 years ago. In Europe it was first introduced in Germany around the year 1000.

Porcelain
Porcelain was, like stoneware, first developed in China.The firing range of true, or hard-paste porcelain is above 1200°C reaching up to 1400°C. Porcelain bodies do not occur in nature and are composed from kaolin and cornish stone, a feldspathoid (mineral similar to feldspar but with smaller silica content) that works as a flux, melting to a stiff glass. Porcelain fires white and translucent, and has great mechanical strength, allowing the making of extremely thin walled vessels. Usually the body is covered only by a thin layer of transparent glaze, but coloured and opaque glazes can be used. Germany was the first European country to unveil the secret of porcelain, but only in the eighteenth century. Soft-paste porcelain is fired at lower temperatures, is of European origin and can only be formed by casting due to its lack of plasticity. The two main types of soft-paste porcelain are china and bone china. Hard-paste porcelain is also difficult to form with the traditional methods used by the studio potter, and is prone to collapsing, deforming and warping during the firing.