Pottery is one of the oldest surviving crafts, traditionally used for cooking and storing water and later evolving into decorative and aesthetic objects through techniques such as glazing. The pottery-making process involves four main stages: preparing the clay, shaping, decorating and glazing, and firing. The three major types of pottery are earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, each distinguished by its clay composition and firing temperature. Earthenware is relatively easy to work with and allows colourful glazing but is more prone to damage. Stoneware uses a heavier clay mixture and is fired at higher temperatures, resulting in greater strength. Porcelain, made primarily from fine white kaolin clay with feldspar and flint, is the finest and most delicate type.