We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Decor

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Faience?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 9,357
Share

The art form of faience has to do with the creation of pottery that is distinguished by the use of tin-glazed facades that are placed on a pale body. Originally applied to pottery that was classified as earthenware, the term has come to be identified with some forms of ceramic and china creations as well. Here is some background on the history of faience, and how the technique continues to command a place in the world market today.

The tin-glazed earthenware is generally thought to have made its first appearance in the Middle East around the ninth century BCE. However, there is some debate on this point, as some experts maintain that there are examples of Egyptian faience in the form of earthenware beads that are dated around 1200 BCE. The discovery of kilns in the area of Crete that date from the period seem to suggest that it was possible to create a firing environment that was ideal for the creation of faience.

There is evidence that the technique used for all sorts of applications from household crockery to statues that were used in public buildings and even images that occupied hallowed places within religious temples. Over time, faience became a popular technique in many areas of the Mediterranean, as well as France. At times, quartz has been introduced into the process of faience as an element that works in conjunction with the tin oxide to create the unique glazing.

While faience remained popular through the Middle Ages, the appearance of cheap porcelain around the latter part of the 18th century began to lessen the demand. By the middle of 19th century, stoneware had also eaten the market for faience, leaving the art form more or less a thing of the past. However, some small markets for faience that was of lesser quality remained.

The renaissance of faience began to develop on the latter 19th century, with the creation of highly desirable designs that were fired and maintained with the use the tin glazed look. Such notables as Minton and Wedgewood reintroduced faience to a market that was often composed of the well to do classes of Europe and the United Kingdom. The movement gained a great deal of momentum during the 1870s and spread to the United States by the turn of the century. While faience has never quite recaptured the mass appeal of times past, the technique remains in use today, and is often considered an ideal option for family china and other types of earthenware, such as figurines.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including HomeQuestionsAnswered, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-faience.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.