Plate mould from dust press, to produce Wedgwood, 1996.

Many different types of clay are used to produce ceramics. The most common include ball clay, china clay and fire clay. Clays are classified as refractory or fusible clays. Refractory clays such as fire clay and china clay are high-fired clays, while fusible clays such as marl are low-fired. Earthenware is made from fusible clays while hard paste porcelain and stoneware are made from refractory clays.