Les vitraux alto-médiévaux de Stavelot (Belgique)

Wersch, Line Van; Biron, Isabelle; Neuray, Brigitte; Mathis, François; Chêne, Grégoire; Strivay, David; Sapin, Christian

doi:10.4000/archeosciences.4284

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Sodium was not directly measured, but according to the Raman spectra (see below), the glass beads are predominantly of soda-lime composition. Consequently, the Na 2 O contents of Table 1 are constrained between 10 and 15 wt.%, in agreement with the literature for ancient soda-lime glasses (Nenna et al 1997, Schalm et al 2007, Tournié 2009, Verità 2013, Van Wersch et al 2014, Silvestri et al 2018. For turquoise beads, a Na 2 O content between 10 and 15 wt.% was confirmed by Thornton et al (2014), and for orange lead-bearing glass, sodium was considered as absent in agreement with previous analyses (Dungworth and Brain 2009) and the figure 5 (see discussions).…”

Section: Raman Spectroscopic Analysessupporting

confidence: 87%

The Reliquary Bust of Saint Lambert from the Liège Cathedral, Belgium: Gemstones and Glass Beads Analysis by pXRF and Raman Spectroscopy

Bruni

Hatert

George³

et al. 2019

Archaeometry

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The reliquary bust of Saint Lambert, hosted in the Treasure of the Liège Cathedral, was produced in the early 15th century. This exceptional goldsmithery piece is covered with gold‐coated silver, and decorated by approximately 400 stones, analysed by Raman and pXRF techniques to determine their mineralogical and chemical composition. The results confirm the identification of one hundred pearls, twenty‐six rock crystals, ten amethysts, two diamonds, and numerous glass beads with a green, blue, colourless, turquoise, orange or red colour. The glass beads show a soda‐lime composition, confirming that they are contemporary of the bust and imported from Venice, as reported by historical sources. Orange beads show a lead composition and the red stone a triplet with quartz, indicating that they were added to the bust later. The cutting of gems and beads shows also a significant evolution. The metal contains approximately 60% of Au and 40% of Ag. The origin of gemstones was difficult to establish, due to the absence of characteristic trace elements, but the chemical elements used for the manufacture and colouring of the beads were determined. This study confirms the trade of stones between Liège and Venice during medieval times.

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Section: Raman Spectroscopic Analysessupporting

confidence: 87%

The Reliquary Bust of Saint Lambert from the Liège Cathedral, Belgium: Gemstones and Glass Beads Analysis by pXRF and Raman Spectroscopy

Bruni

Hatert

George³

et al. 2019

Archaeometry

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“…Despite some attempts to distinguish first millennium cobalt sources based on variations in CoO/NiO or CoO/ZnO ratios or on the manganese and antimony contents [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27], the lack of reliable analytical data and the apparent high purity of the cobalt complicate the characterisation of cobalt and its distribution during this period. For the present paper, mostly published and forthcoming data of several glass assemblages dating to the fourth to eleventh century CE were collated and statistically evaluated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the Signature of Cobalt Colorants in Late Antique and Early Islamic Glass Production

2018

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Prior to the eighteenth century, cobalt was exclusively employed as a colouring agent for vitreous materials, and its use appears to be concurrent with the earliest large-scale production of glass during the Late Bronze Age (LBA). LBA cobalt deposits with a distinctive elemental signature have been identified in the oases of the western Egyptian desert, while cobalt mines in Kashan (Iran) and in the Erzgebirge (Germany) are known to have been exploited during the later Middle Ages. For most of the first millennium BCE and CE, however, the identity of cobalt sources and their supply patterns remain elusive. The aim of this study is to characterise the chemical composition of cobalt colorants used during the first millennium CE. Compositional variations indicate the use of different raw materials and/or production processes, which in turn has implications for the underlying exchange networks. Using mainly correlations between cobalt, nickel and zinc as discriminants, our results show that the compositional signature of cobalt underwent two major changes. An increase in the CoO/NiO ratios occurs between the late fourth and the beginning of the sixth century, while a new zinc-rich source of cobalt begins to be exploited during the second half of the eighth century in the Islamic world.

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“…The deep blue and amber cabochons, observed on the reliquary cross, contain high levels of SiO 2 and CaO, as well as low amounts of K 2 O (Table 2); they are consequently constituted by soda-lime glass, with expected sodium concentration between 13 and 21 wt.% Na 2 O [18,19,30]. Moreover, Raman spectra from Demaude [2] show peaks at 560 and 1072 cm −1 , thus confirming this hypothesis [31].…”

Section: Composition and Dating Of Glass Beadsmentioning

confidence: 64%

An Archaeometric Investigation of Gems and Glass Beads Decorating the Double-Arm Reliquary Cross from Liège, Belgium

et al. 2021

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In 1914, a magnificent reliquary cross dating from the early XIIIth century was discovered in a safe from the Liège Cathedral. This double-arm cross shows a wooden structure, covered by gold-coated copper on the front, and by carved silver plates on the back. Its total length is 34 cm, and it is covered by filigrees, gems, glass beads, and pearls on its front. The reliquary cross was analysed by Raman spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) to determine the mineralogical and chemical compositions of gems, glass beads, and metals that have been used to decorate it. The results confirm the identification of twenty-five turquoises from Egypt, one garnet from Sri Lanka, as well as six quartz and one opal whose origin is difficult to certify. Twelve glass beads, showing green, blue, or amber tints, were also identified. Their compositions either correspond to soda lime glasses with natron or to potash–lead glasses similar to those of Central Europe. Moreover, a small polished red cross and a green stone appear to be constituted by nice doublets, composed of coloured glass covered by quartz. The filigrees contain Au and Cu, while carved plates covering the edges and the back of the cross are made of silver.

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Les vitraux alto-médiévaux de Stavelot (Belgique)

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

The Reliquary Bust of Saint Lambert from the Liège Cathedral, Belgium: Gemstones and Glass Beads Analysis by pXRF and Raman Spectroscopy

The Reliquary Bust of Saint Lambert from the Liège Cathedral, Belgium: Gemstones and Glass Beads Analysis by pXRF and Raman Spectroscopy

Changes in the Signature of Cobalt Colorants in Late Antique and Early Islamic Glass Production

An Archaeometric Investigation of Gems and Glass Beads Decorating the Double-Arm Reliquary Cross from Liège, Belgium

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