Egyptian faience and sterling silver pendant

Egyptian faience and sterling silver earrings

Egyptian faience and sterling silver earrings

Egyptian faience and sterling silver pendant

stonepaste and sterling silver earrings

small stonepaste pot

Jewelry and pottery made with Egyptian faience, Islamic stonepaste and other ceramic techniques. Egyptian faience was invented more than 5,000 years ago and is the oldest known kind of glazed ware. It is a precursor to true glass and sometimes appears very glass-like. (Read more about Egyptian faience here.) Islamic stonepaste is a more recent invention. Current research suggests that stonepaste was first invented in Iraq in the 9th century. It was further developed and refined in Egypt in the 12th century before spreading to other parts of the Islamic world. It was likely invented in imitation of porcelain, something Islamic potters did not have the knowledge or technology to make.

photographs on this page by Mary Vogel