Exploring the Durability of 1960s and 70s Stoneware Dinnerware

Several patterns and shapes of 1960s and 1970s dinnerware

Stoneware dinnerware of the 1960s and 70s is well-known for its durability and longevity. This type of dinnerware is made from clay that has been fired at high temperatures, making it resistant to chips, cracks, and scratches. But what makes stoneware dinnerware from this era so durable compared to other types of dinnerware?

First, we must explore the unique cultural shifts happening around the dinner table at the time because, in many ways, this was the driving force behind many of the changes occurring in the market. By the 1960s and 70s, newer technologies like the microwave oven and the automatic dishwashing machine were commonplace. This encouraged dinnerware manufacturers to innovate as young households ditched mother and grandmother’s delicate porcelains with silver and gold embellishments that could not be microwaved. Another thing to consider is the number of women who had entered the workforce by this time. It was common for children old enough to spend a few after-school hours at home alone. People wanted their kitchens to revolve around ease with minimal clean-up, which introduced an era of extra durable oven-to-table-to-freezer pieces.

So, what technologies and changes were made to accommodate the modern family of the 1960s and 70s? Well, several. 

One reason vintage stoneware is seemingly everlasting is the quality of the clay used. Stoneware clay is naturally more durable than other types of clay because it has a higher firing temperature, which makes it harder and less porous. The stoneware clay used in the 1960s and 70s was typically of a high quality compared to today’s. It was fired at high temperatures, which resulted in a stronger and more durable final product.

1970s Stoneware dinnerware designed by Jim McBride in Seattle for his company Fabrik

Another reason for the durability of stoneware dinnerware from this era is the glazes used. Glazes are applied to the surface of the stoneware to make it smooth and waterproof and to add color and design. The glazes used on stoneware dinnerware of the 1960s and 70s are high-quality, with a focus on withstanding both machine dishwashing and several blasts of 1970s-strength microwave radiation. This particular attention to glazes meant they were less likely to chip, crack, or craze. Crazing is a spiderlike cracking to glazing, which is not structural damage (makes it more susceptible) but can leave spaces for mold and harmful bacteria to fester. You see this a lot in pre-60s dinnerware.

Additionally, stoneware dinnerware from this era was often thicker and heavier than other types of dinnerware, which added to its durability. Though this was primarily an aesthetic choice of the era to emulate a back-to-nature rustic feel, the weight and thickness of the stoneware made it less likely to become damaged, even with daily use.

Ceramicist hand throwing clay at a potters wheel

Finally, the manufacturing process used for stoneware dinnerware of the 1960s and 70s played a role in its durability. Though artisan pieces were still primarily hand-thrown on a potter wheel, larger mass-manufactured pieces were made using slip casting. In this process, liquid clay was hand-poured into individual molds and allowed to be set for an extended period of time. This process ensured that each piece was uniform in thickness and shape, making it less likely to break or chip. Compared to today's speedy machine mass manufacturing, 60s-era slip casting was seen as a very tedious and time-consuming process, but it was cutting-edge technology at the time.

Undoubtedly, stoneware dinnerware from the 1960s and 70s is durable. It was intended to be a long-lasting investment for everyday family use. Pieces were designed to keep up with several modern convenience factors that contributed to its longevity. Today, stoneware is manufactured for different modern conveniences, including low shipping weight and internet trend cycles, making it cheap to produce and quick to replace. Considering its origin and motivations, it's really no surprise that vintage stoneware dinnerware is still an excellent investment for any home all these decades later.