A Micro‐raman and Internal Microstratigraphic Study of Ceramic Sherds From the Kilns of the Medici Castle at Cafaggiolo*

Abstract

Nine representative sherds from the old (14th-16th century) kilns at the Castle of Cafaggiolo in Tuscany have been analysed by means of internal microstratigraphic analyses and micro-Raman spectroscopy and classified as follows: six engobed and glazed fragments, of which three are covered with an opaque white, decorated layer, one is marbleized, and two are engobed. The surface of the two engobed sherds, fragments of unfinished products, indicates that at least two firing processes were used. Two samples show characteristics of Byzantine pottery, and three of them can be classified as Islamic ware or maiolica, whilst the other one displays intermediate characteristics. The variety of ceramic wares indicates the presence of craftsmen with differing expertise, and suggests that part of their work was dedicated to experimentation on new ceramic production techniques.

The enamels of the first (soft‐paste) European blue‐and‐white porcelains: Rouen, Saint‐Cloud and Paris factories: Complementarity of Raman and X‐ray fluorescence analyses with mobile instruments to identify the cobalt ore

“…How to cite this article: P. Colomban, M. Gironda, H. G. M. Edwards, V. Mesqui, J Raman Spectrosc 2021, 52 (12), 2246. https://doi. org/10.1002/jrs.6111…”

Glazed sgraffito ware from Torre Alemanna (Foggia, fifteenth to sixteenth century A.D.): technological aspects of a local production

“…Although scholarly attention has mainly focused on the masterpieces of painterly maiolica of the Italian Renaissance (Liverani 1957;Whitehouse 1967;Whitehouse 1978;Goldthwaite 1989;Fabbri et al 1990;Kingery 1993;Ruffini et al 2005;Viti et al 2003;Tite 1991Tite , 2008Antonelli et al 2014), a multifaceted stylistic and technological world is emerging on the Italian ceramic production of that period (Gardini and Mannoni 1995;Clark et al 1997;Capelli et al 2002;Comodi et al 2004;Laganara Fabiano 2004;Ricci et al 2005;Capelli and Cabella 2010;De Santis et al 2012;Heimann et al 2014).…”

Identification of mineral inclusions in archaeological ceramics using microbeam X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry

“…Ceramic artefacts are investigated using a variety of analytical techniques. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Usually, non-destructive techniques are preferred in order to preserve the artefact's integrity, but in cases where provenance is of concern, semi-destructive techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and petrography are utilised. For example, when performing quantitative elemental analysis of ceramic sherds, XRF analysis is performed on powder samples made by crushing and then milling pieces of the sherds in question, into fine homogenous powders, [7] pressed into pellets [8] or fused into glass beads.…”

“…Ceramic artefacts are investigated using a variety of analytical techniques . Usually, non‐destructive techniques are preferred in order to preserve the artefact's integrity, but in cases where provenance is of concern, semi‐destructive techniques such as X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and petrography are utilised.…”