Sterling silver, Faience, and iolite scarab pendant. Faience is composed mainly of silica (sand or crushed quartz), along with small amounts of sodium and calcium, faience is considered a non-clay or siliceous ceramic. It is a precursor to glazed clay-based ceramics, such as earthenware and stoneware, and also to glass, which was invented around 2500 BC. The scarab is bezel set, and topped with an oval cabochon iolite, and finished with a polished bail.