Faience — From the Italian town of Faenza. Originally a term for tin-glazed ware, but during the 19th century it was used to describe moulded and glazed architectural ceramics. In France it was used for fine quality earthenware while in America it refers to tiles with a handmade look decorated with matt glazes.
Fettling — The process of removing the rough edges from a dust-pressed tile after pressing.
FILATI — Tiny pieces of coloured glass used in micromosaics.
FLOAT — A rubber or other soft- sided trowel used for spreading grout.
FLORENTINE COMMESSO — From commesso (Italian) = to combine, to join, to fix together. Type of mosaic made of marble and hardstone sections. Single elements are closely fitted and therefore joins are not visible.
FLOUR PASTE — Flour paste is prepared by heating a mixture of water and 00 grade flour; it is used in the reverse method to paste tesserae on paper; it is easily removed because it is highly water-soluble.
Flux — An agent added to a glaze to help lower the melting point so that it adheres more easily to the clay body.
furmah — individually hand-chiseled tile piece in traditional Moorish (Moroccan) mosaic, see ZILLIJ.
