In the "family" to which faience belongs (quartz-paste compounds) are similar compounds/products, that have different appearances and properties, but are closely related. I didn't want to unnecessarily complicate the post by mentioning them. However, the list includes Egyptian Blue (of which there are E. Mediterranean and Egyptian types), and "frit" (a name I dislike and disagree with). I already mentioned glassy faience.

I think that an important part of the problem of dealing with these materials is that it's complicated by the condition of the piece at the time it's being studied.

"Frit" is often classified as a material distinct from faience. However, I am not convinced this is true. I sometimes wonder if it is just highly weathered faience, or even weathered glass (?). (Weathered glass is OFTEN mistaken for faience.

Then, there are similar materials from China, that I am inclined to believe they got from (Greater) Persia, but eventually made themselves, that form the bases of beads—including beads from the Warring States Period. I am sometimes inclined to refer to these as "composition," rather than faience (since the glazing is clearly applied in complex ways).

I wish some compendium handled all this in a comprehensive manner....

Jamey