Egyptian Paste

Egyptian paste—also known as Egyptian Faience— is a self-glazing clay. It is excellent for making small beads, press-molded forms, and sculptures. Its history goes back more than 6,000 years to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was used to make small decorative items like scarab beetles and jewelry. Egyptian Paste is a low-fire mixture that contains clay, sand, colorants, frits, and soluble salts. When the paste dries, the salts rise to the surface along with water, forming crystals that create a glaze when fired.