A colorful, shiny material made by grinding quartz or sand with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and/or copper oxide. The resulting substance is formed into the desired shape, such as a bead, amulet, or sculpture, then fired. During firing, the pieces harden and develop a glassy finish with bright colors (blue-green being the most common). The ancient Egyptians perfected the manufacturing of faience, perhaps in an attempt to imitate the colors of turquoise and other gemstones. Web resources here and here.

Statuette of a Hippopotamus. Faience. Middle Kingdom. Ca. 1981–1885 BCE. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.