Ceramic from the Greek word "keramos" meaning clay, is the generic term for all items made from clay and fired in a kiln. Depending on the type of clay, which other elements have been mixed with it and the temperature at which it was fired, the end result may be referred to as porcelain, pottery or stoneware. There are then further terms used to distinquish different types including hard paste and soft paste porcelain, bone china, biscuit, earthenware and creamware. The word "china" is not therefore used in the field of antiques except for bone china, which is a hard paste porcelain mixed with animal bone ash to make it whiter.

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