Multidisciplinary study of glazed ceramics from Chamberí Metro Station (Madrid, Spain): A knowledge base with technological and heritage value

Abstract

Glazed ceramics -both original and replacement-from Chamberí Metro Station (built in 1919) in Madrid (Spain) were studied using a multidisciplinary approach aimed at finding out more about the materials and technologies used to make them. The original white tiles, which help illuminate these underground spaces, were manu-factured in Onda, Castellón (Spain) with very calcareous clays fired at ≈950 °C and coated with lead alkali-glazes. The original decorative pieces, with a metallic sheen, were made in Triana, Seville (Spain) with cal-careous and illite clays fired at temperatures of between 850 and 950 °C and treated with transparent lead glazes. The replacement pieces had the same appearance as the originals but were more resistant. The white tiles were made out of quartz-rich, illite-kaolinite and calcareous clays fired at temperatures of > 950 °C with an alkali-glaze that was very rich in zircon and aluminium. The decorative pieces were made from illite-kaolinite clays very rich in aluminium and fired at < 850 °C. These included an additive in the form of a highly refractory grog and were covered with an aluminium-rich lead-potassium glaze. The manufacturing techniques used to make each type of piece varied depending on their particular function within the station.

Combined Vibrational Spectroscopic and Elemental Studies of 18th Century Transylvanian Stove Tiles

“…Considering the results obtained applying different spectroscopic techniques to the three ceramic fragments a, b and c, as well as to pottery shards found in the indicated archaeological site [39], it is concluded that open res, that reach a maximum temperature of about 800 °C [40], could have been used to process all these pieces. It is well known that lead glazes typically melt at temperatures between 700 and 1000 0 C depending on the composition of the glaze [41,42]. The results indicate that lead alkali glazes, with a high lead content, have been used to coat these fragments.…”

“…The results indicate that lead alkali glazes, with a high lead content, have been used to coat these fragments. A type of glazes with a content of lead that began to be used in the 10th and 11th centuries in the Western word [42,43].…”