Application of analytical techniques to the unveiling of the glazing technology of medieval pottery from the Belgrade Fortress

Abstract

Medieval glazed ceramics, dated to the early 15th century, excavated at the Belgrade Fortress, Serbia, was investigated combining optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis. Decoration and style of investigated ceramics were characteristic of workshops from different areas of medieval Serbian state: Ras, Krusevac and Belgrade/Smederevo. Comparison was made with ceramic samples from the same period excavated at the Studenica Monastery, the earliest workshop discovered so far, which were used as reference material for Ras area. Ceramics from the Belgrade Fortress was covered with transparent, lead-based glaze. Majority of the glazes were produced by application of mixture of lead oxide and quartz to the clay body, whereas only two samples were glazed by application of lead oxide by itself. Brown colours of the glaze originate from Fe-based spinel, whereas copper and iron were responsible for the coloring of the green and yellow glazes. The obtained results revealed glazing technology taken from Byzantine tradition.

Analyzing the Development History of Chinese Ceramic Packaging Containers and Their Modern Design Innovation Based on Multivariate Statistics

“…As an important part of Chinese traditional culture, ceramic packaging containers have a long history of development and are full of rich cultural connotations and artistic values. With the application of multivariate statistical analysis methods, the development history of Chinese ceramic packaging containers and their design innovation in modern times can be studied more systematically [1][2][3].…”