faience

noun

fa·​ience fā-ˈän(t)s How to pronounce faience (audio)
fī-,
-ˈäⁿs
variants or faïence
: earthenware decorated with opaque colored glazes

Examples of faience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web New York City’s Fred F. French Building incorporated all of these details and more through many Mesopotamian details, including colorful bas reliefs and faience depicting winged beasts at the top of the building. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2024 Archaeologists also uncovered necklaces made from carnelian and faience beads – types of semi-precious stones used by the ancient Egyptians – as well as half a bronze ring. Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 17 Sep. 2024 Weapons used in battle, as well as hunting tools, personal artifacts, and hygiene products like ivory kohl applicators, carnelian and faience beads, scarabs, and protective amulets identified at the site reveal greater insights about the occupant’s daily lives and practices. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2024 Learn About Ceramics in Faenza In the 15th and 16th centuries, the small city of Faenza became famous all over Europe for the production of majolica—so much so that the word faience derives from the name of this city. Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024 Some of the dome clocks were made using a technique called Longwy enamel (named for the town in France where the technique originated) on faience (a type of ceramic), which involves applying a thick glaze that is then carved in relief. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2023 Rounding out this month’s items are a fine-quality silver spoon, a spelter sculpture and a faience bowl, all from France. Jerry L. Dobesh | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 6 Mar. 2023 Your plates are hand-decorated Quimper faience pottery, made by the Dumaine-Tanquere-Henriot Factory in Brittany, France, and are likely saucers for tea or coffee cups. oregonlive, 2 July 2022 Many were made of gold, while some were made of semiprecious stones, fired clay, or faience. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 24 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'faience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Faenza, Italy

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of faience was in 1714

Dictionary Entries Near faience

Cite this Entry

“Faience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faience. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

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