Orchid Friends,
I’m looking to purchase a couple of good quality blue faience stones
for a ring I will make. I don’t need something made 1,000 years ago.
It can be made this year if the color is bright blue and the size is
about 1.5" length. Can anyone recommend a reliable, honest, fair
vendor so I don’t have to travel to Egypt?
Thanks, Mary A
You could make it yourself. I’ve know folks over the years who have
done it. Egyptian Paste (aka Faience): The Tried-and-true Recipe
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com
There is a ceramic product called “Egyptian Paste” that I used 20+
years ago. I think I got it from Dick Blick supply. If you have a
kiln, you can make your stones with this product. I think it is still
available. You form it and allow it to dry slowly to form crystals on
the surface. The slower it dries, the bluer it gets when fired in a
kiln. It looks pretty much like the “real stuff” I picked
up when I was in Egypt, back in the day.
Jo,
Thank you for this recipe. I don’t know when I’ll have time to
actually make the beads but I will save the recipe and on a cold,
snow day when we are housebound, I will try this.
Gratefully, Mary
“Egyptian paste” is, in fact, another name for faience. I used to
make this years ago when I earned my living as a potter. Not hard to
mix up, but not always easy to get a good result.
Noel