GLA-05 Faience Beads

Faience beads, developed in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, are made from crushed quartz or sand coated with a colored alkaline glaze. The firing process produces a glassy, luminous finish—often in iconic turquoise or blue-green tones. Faience beads were treasured for their brilliance and symbolic meaning, often linked to rebirth and protection.

Faience is often categorized as a ceramic because it is fired and shaped like pottery. However, it is not a true ceramic in the traditional sense. It is made from crushed quartz or sand rather than clay. A glassy glaze binds the material together during firing. This gives faience a bright, smooth surface unlike typical ceramics. Because of its composition, it sits between glass and ceramic. So while it is grouped with ceramics, it is technically a distinct material.