How To Make Clay Pottery In The Classical Method. The predominant types of pottery clay are earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, but a mix of other clays to make them easier to handle may be preferable. You will also need to consider whether you want to glaze the clay and what temperatures your clay can stand. Pottery combines naturally occurring raw materials, such as clay, earthen minerals, and water, and shapes them into forms. Once shaped, the clay body is fired in a kiln at a high temperature to be hardened and heat-resistant. However, the earliest known pottery vessels were discovered in Jiangxi, China, which dates back to 18,000 BC.