Porcelain Lavatory Sinks
by Barclay

Q. "What's the difference between vitreous china, porcelain, fire clay, ceramic, etc.?"
A. There are many terms used to describe white "clay" bathroom fixtures - sometimes the terms are interchangeable and sometimes they are not. For instance, vitreous china and porcelain are essentially the same thing. Vitreous china/porcelain sinks are made by baking a refined mixture of clay and other minerals at a high temperature after glazing. Vitreous china/porcelain is naturally mildew- and bacteria-resistant with a non-porous surface that is ideal for maintaining sanitation - hence it is commonly used for lavatory sinks and toilets. Fire clay, on the other hand, is also molded from a clay and mineral mixture, but it is fired at a higher temperature than vitreous china/porcelain which gives it greater resistance to heat. While fire clay is most often used for kitchen farmhouse sinks, some bathroom sinks are also made of fire clay. Ceramic is sometimes used interchangeably with fireclay, vitreous china, or porcelain, and simply refers to a style of fixture that is molded from clay and baked.