This work explores the combination of µ-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) for the study of the glazes in 15th-16th century Hispano-Moresque architectural tiles. These are high lead glazes that can be tin-opacified or transparent, and present five colors: tin-white, cobalt-blue, copper-green, iron-amber, and manganese-brown. They are generally homogenous and mineral inclusions are mostly concentrated in the glaze-ceramic interface. Through SEM-EDS, these inclusions were observed and chemically analyzed, whereas µ-Raman allowed their identification on a molecular level. K-feldspars, wollastonite and diopside were the most common compounds, as well as cassiterite agglomerates that render the glaze opaque. Malayaite was identified in green glazes, and andradite and magnesioferrite in amber glazes. Co-Ni-ferrites were identified in blue glazes, as well as Ni-Fe-olivines. Manganese-brown is the color where most compounds were identified: bustamite, jacobsite, hausmannite, braunite, and kentrolite. Through the µ-Raman analysis of different areas in large inclusions previously observed by SEM, it was possible to identify intermediate phases that illustrate the reaction process that occurs between the color-conferring compounds and the surrounding lead glaze. Furthermore, the obtained results allowed inference of the raw materials and firing temperatures used on the manufacture of these tiles.

RESUMENEn este artículo se describe un conjunto de más 300 piezas de cerámica común de producción defectuosa, actualmente depositadas en el Real Alcázar de Sevilla, y procedente del relleno de la bóveda del presbiterio de la Capilla del Colegio de Santa María de Jesús en la misma ciudad. Su fecha de fabricación e instalación puede ser fijada entre 1503 y 1506 a través de datos documentales publicados. La totalidad de objetos, obedece a 50 tipos formales distintos de los que 30 eran hasta ahora inéditos. La publicación en esta misma revista de trabajos de los que éste pudiera resultar complementario, añade ahora valor a la divulgación de estos datos. La variedad tipológica, la posibilidad de conocer su cronología de producción -en un momento histórico clave para Sevilla y su amplio radio de acción-, su buen estado de conservación y su probable origen local, convierten este conjunto en una colección de especial interés arqueológico aunque su extracción en la década de 1970 no fuera realizada lamentablemente con el rigor que hoy hubiera sido efectuada tal operación.ABSTRACT In this paper, a group of more than 300 ceramic artifacts of defective manufacture that are presently in the Real Alcázar of Seville, is described. The coarsewares come from the filling of the voult of the presbitery of the chapel of Santa María de Jesús College in the same city. The date of manufacture and setting can be fixed between 1503 and 1506 by means of documentary data allready published. The objects follow 50 different formal patterns from which 30 of them are now published for the first time. This paper might complement other works published in this issue and this makes more valuable the spreading of this data. The typological variety, the possibility to know the chronology of their manufacture -a crucial historic period of Seville and a wide area of influence-its good conditions and its probable local origin, make this group a collection of special archaeological interest although their taking out in the 70's was unfortunatelly, not carried out with the scientific accuracy that would be necessary nowadays.SPAL 8 (1999): 263-292

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