Typology of Glazed Ceramics of the Kazan Khanate and Analysis of Its Element Composition

Abstract

Studying on archaeological material the history of the Kazan Kremlin which was included in the list of UNESCO in 2000 is an actual problem because of the limited written sources remained. The aim of the work is to study the features of trade and craft traditions of the late Middle Ages Kazan on the example of ceramic artifacts. The authors applied a complex of analytic methods which included morphology and element composition of glaze: samples of glazed ceramics with green, brown and blue glaze. The chemical composition of glaze of three ceramics samples was determined in the article by two methods. They are the emission spectroscopy and the method of electron microscopy. The good comparability of analytical data of two independent methods is shown in the article. Both advantages and disadvantages of each type of the analysis are given. The data on a chemical composition in the article show that two samples of the glaze is lead, the third sample is lead-tin with an addition of ash (that is sodium and potassium). Results of the article revealed an optimal range of analytical procedures for the studying of glazed ceramics and may be useful as methodical material for archeometric researches.

Origins of Lead Glaze Technology of the Ceramics of Kazan Kremlin

“…1. The detailed morphological description of the studied samples is given in the work (Sitdikov and Khramchenkova, 2015). Researches showed that 63% of ceramics is made of white ware with green glaze, 16 % of red ware with green glaze, and 14% of red ware with blue glaze, 7% of white and red ware with brown glaze.…”

“…Researches showed that 63% of ceramics is made of white ware with green glaze, 16 % of red ware with green glaze, and 14% of red ware with blue glaze, 7% of white and red ware with brown glaze. According to comparison with the analytical data of X-ray fluorescence analysis emission spectroscopy was the most informative analysis (Sitdikov and Khramchenkova, 2015). This method allows defining simultaneously about 40 elements, as well as major, minor and trace elements.…”

“…According to the researches, the most informative method is the emission spectrum analysis which allows determining both main and minor and trace elements (Sitdikov and Khramchenkova, 2015). The comparison of glaze composition gives interesting analytical data that allows finding sources of raw materials production (Khramchenkova, 2014).…”

“…More than a half of the items are imported ceramics; another part consists of fragments of glazed ware of two types: red ware with blue glaze and white and red ware with green and brown glaze. A preliminary research of three ceramic fragments was conducted for identification of the most appropriate analytical method (Sitdikov & Khramchenkova, 2015). According to these researches, the emission spectrum analysis that allows defining the main, minor and trace elements as well appeared to be the most informative method.…”