Abstract: Disclosed herein are fired ceramic wares possessing hydrophobic properties throughout the bodies thereof. The ware is prepared utilizing a water-reduced ceramic body composition containing a quantity of a finely-divided sub-micron amorphous silica or alumina. This ceramic body composition is formed into a green ware, the ware dried and fired at relatively low temperature and the fired ware treated with one or more reactive organosilicon compounds whereby organosilicon groups are caused to chemisorb onto the surface of the finely-divided amorphous oxide component.