History of Ceramics1

The term 'ceramic' refers to a non-metallic, inorganic solid. The substance takes on an easily moldable quality on being exposed to extreme heat and subsequent cooling. The crystalline structure of the material gives it a very amorphous or glassy appearance...

Ceramic is a crystalline material, inorganic in nature. The word 'ceramic' is Greek in origin, and means 'pottery'. Today, the term is commonly used to describe a material used in pottery. The earliest recorded ceramics were the result of various mixtures and base - combinations, including clay. The resultant non-metallic and inorganic solid base is now a common sight in artware and the domestic and industrial segments of human development. The twentieth century witnessed the design of amalgamated, new ceramic materials that are still used extensively in the manufacture of semiconductors. Ceramic engineering, as we know it today, is advanced and involves state-of-the-art processes. The material is inert and inorganic, with a crystalline oxide base. The resultant product is always brittle, but strong in compression. Ceramic is able to withstand very high temperatures and chemical erosion and survives well even in a strong caustic environment. Traditional raw materials that go into the manufacture of ceramic include kaolinite, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and aluminum oxide or alumina.

The ceramics we know today date back to around 24,000 BC when the first clay animals and pottery were found. It is believed that these were used in rituals during that time and were very sacred. As civilization moved forward and people needed certain utensils, ceramics made a very good tool.

About 10,000 years later there were many people who used tiles in Mesopotamia and India and there were many vessels used for water and food storage. This actually became an invention that was based on need.

Many historians believe that the Egyptians found a way to heat kiln like devices and were able to put a colored glaze on their pottery. This was used for many decorative pieces until around 1,500 BC when glass was discovered and there was now a way to make pieces out of something different than ceramics.

One of the issues when people study the history of ceramics is that there are different ways to look at these beautiful works. Some people made them to as decorations and others made them as functional pieces. Since ceramics have to be fired to harden, they have made a very good vessel for carrying many things.
Many different cultures worked with ceramics. For instance, the Chinese produced three types of pottery --painted, black and carved. Much of what they did happened during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D) because by this time they had developed a long history of firing kilns, so they were able to start producing many varied pieces.