faience

noun

Etymology: From French faïence, named after the city of Faenza, Italy, where it was made in the 16th century.

1. A type of tin-glazed earthenware ceramic, used domestically for tableware and in architecture as a decorative material.

   “The smile, you see, is perfect—wonderful / As mere Faience! a table ornament / To suit the richest mounting.”

   “If she had wondered what Mrs. Burrage wished so particularly to talk about, she waited some time for the clearing-up of the mystery. During this interval she sat in a remarkably pretty boudoir, where there were flowers and faiences and little French pictures, and watched her hostess revolve round the subject in circles the vagueness of which she tried to dissimulate.”

2. Beads or small ornaments made from frit, from the eastern Mediterranean of the Bronze and Iron Ages.

   “Beneath these booths were spread their goods; silks from Cos, bronze weapons and copper rods, or ingots from the rich mines of Cyprus, linens and muslins from Egypt; beads, idols, carven bowls, knives, glass ware, pottery in all shapes, and charms made of glazed faience or Egyptian stone; […].”