Faience is a glazed ceramic known for producing bright colours, commonly found as blues, turquoises, and greens. It is produced from quartz or sand crystals mixed with additional compounds, finished with a vitreous alkaline glaze to the surface. Egyptians believed that the faience represent rebirth and immortality given their glimmering qualities under the light. The Predynastic period saw production of only green and blue faience, however from the Old Kingdom and onwards alternative colours such as black, yellow, and red were added to the palette. The colours served different symbolism, for instance, blue was thought to reflect fertility and life. Despite being manufactured as amulets and jewellery, faience was found in the production of scarabs, furniture and cups.
To find out more about Egyptian faience please see our relevant blog post: What is Egyptian Faience?
