Broken plates are typically made from ceramic materials. Ceramics are non-metallic, inorganic materials made by heating natural clay and other minerals at high temperatures. This process creates hard, brittle, and heat-resistant plates used for dining. When these plates break, it’s usually because ceramics are strong but fragile—they can crack or shatter when dropped or hit with force. So, broken plates come from ceramic materials like porcelain, earthenware, or stoneware.