How to Tell Porcelain from Faience. Differences Between Faience and Porcelain

Many people use household items made from different types of ceramics. But not many can accurately determine what type they are. The most popular types of ceramics are faience and porcelain. For example, soft porcelain is used to make artistic and decorative items, while hard porcelain is used for tableware, ceramic electrical insulators, radio and electrical engineering parts, and sanitary ware. Faience is used to produce facing tiles, tableware and sanitary ware.

In this article, we will try to understand why these types of ceramics have become so popular and, most importantly, explain how to tell faience from porcelain.

Let us start with porcelain. Porcelain is a material made from fine ceramics. It is characterized by high water impermeability, resistance to chemicals and high temperatures. In addition, it has electrical insulating properties and is resistant to mechanical impact.

Porcelain is made using kaolin, clay, quartz, feldspar and bone ash. Items are produced by high-temperature firing (up to 1450 °C). As mentioned above, there are hard and soft types of porcelain. Hard porcelain has a poorer composition, so the firing temperature is increased to obtain porcelain of the required density. Hard porcelain is stronger than soft porcelain. That is why soft porcelain is used to make artistic and decorative items (sculptures, souvenirs) and tableware, while hard porcelain is used for sanitary and technical equipment.

Faience has the same color as porcelain: white. Its production uses raw materials similar to porcelain, but the technology is completely different. The firing temperature is slightly lower than when firing porcelain (up to 1280 °C). It is lower because faience is not as hard as porcelain.

Faience is more porous, and its water absorption rate is much higher. Therefore, it is covered with a thin layer of waterproof glaze so that the item does not absorb moisture and odors during use.

Faience and porcelain — main differences

Several methods can help you distinguish faience from porcelain:

1. By sound. Porcelain has a clearer ring. Lightly tap the item. If you hear a clear, ringing sound, it is porcelain; a low and dull sound is a sign of a faience item.
2. By translucency. Hold the item up to the light. If the item is translucent, it is porcelain; if not, it is faience.
3. Visual inspection. Look at the bottom of the item. If it is slightly rough, it is most likely porcelain. A glossy surface indicates that the item is made of faience.
4. Porcelain is much more expensive than faience. Therefore, porcelain is most often used for figurines, vases and souvenirs, while faience is used for household items.
5. Faience items have lower thermal conductivity than porcelain ones. If the item is, for example, a cup, then after pouring a hot drink into it, the handle of the cup will remain cold.

Which items are better, porcelain or faience? Porcelain items are always more expensive. This material is harder and will last much longer than faience. Porcelain has no pores, unlike faience. Faience can be porous at the fracture. Therefore, if cracks appear on faience tableware over time, it is better not to use such dishes. Bacteria will actively develop inside these cracks, which can harm the human body.

If you have the opportunity, it is certainly better to buy a porcelain item. If not, then when choosing a faience item it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer and appearance: the item should have no defects.