Abstract: An open porous ceramic article having an outer skin and an open porous interior. The interior has a continuous matrix of ceramic material which includes a plurality of chambers of predetermined shape and size distributed throughout the matrix. The chambers are in communication with one another; the passageways are smaller in cross-sectional area than the chambers connected thereby. With its skin removed, the article may be used as a filter for molten metal. With its skin intact, the article is useful as thermal insulation.The open porous ceramic article may be made by coating a predetermined volume of thermally degradable beads with a predetermined quantity of binder capable of taking a set and thereafter molding the coated beads under pressure in a mold until the binder is set. A slurry of ceramic material fills the interstices of the mass of the coated beads. After the ceramic slurry has set, the resulting block is dried to remove the excess moisture from the ceramic material.