Technological evolution of ceramic glazes in the renaissance: In situ analysis of tiles in the Alcazar (Seville, Spain)

Abstract

The Alcazar Palace (Seville, Spain) is famous for its ceramic decorations; 16th century wall tiles of different typologies have been analyzed in order to relate the manufacturing process of their colored glazes to the evolving technologies of the Renaissance. Chemical and mineralogical compositions have been determined in situ by nondestructive X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray diffraction on arista ceramics in the Cenador de Carlos Quinto, and majolica ceramics in the Palacio Gotico and the Royal oratory. The arista style belongs to the local Hispano‐Moresque ceramic tradition. Majolica tiles have the complex microstructures of glazes from Italy. The two types are clearly differentiated by their typology, morphology (curved vs flat surface), and also microstructure (single vs multi‐layers), glaze chemistry, and use of different coloring agents. Moreover, we found different glaze chemistries in the investigated majolicas, which correspond to different artists and/or practices.

Composition and technological features of ceramics manufactured by Benito de Valladares in the seventeenth century from the Alcazar Palace in Seville, Spain

“…The powdered samples were sieved at 50 μm and dried in an oven for 24 h at 105 °C; 0.8 g of sample and were also performed with SEM-EDX using standards from the Oxford Instrument Society. These techniques have been described in previous publications about the ceramics and wall paintings of the Alcazar by some of the authors of this work [3,4,8,13].…”

“…The compositions and manufacturing techniques of these ceramics and their periods of application in different areas of the Palace were studied. De Viguerie et al [8] studied the technological evolution of the Renaissance ceramics of maiolica style located in the Altarpiece and the Gothic Palace, which were made, respectively, by Niculoso Pisano in 1504 and Cristobal de Augusta in approximately 1578. In addition, the arista tiles made by Polido brooders in the Cenador de Carlos Quinto were also studied by these authors.…”

“…The maiolica technology was learned by Niculoso Pisano, who brought it to Seville, and disappeared with his death. Later, the maiolica technology was reborn by Cristobal de Augusta, who learned the technique from Frans Andries and arrived in Seville from Antwerp [8].…”

“…The various kinds of ceramic technology employed in the manufacturing of the pieces from the Alcazar and involved in Seville's workshops and their comparisons with other European ceramics have been discussed by several authors [3][4][5][6][7][8]. However, the technology of the ceramics manufactured by Benito de Valladares has never been studied; little attention has been given to this artist and his workshop until now, and a comparison of these ceramics with other ceramics from Seville has not been carried out to date.…”

Effects of temperature and humidity on adhesion of water scale to glass substrates

“…Over the years, glazes used in ceramics have been studied extensively 1–10 . However, there have been few studies on the water stains that form on glaze surfaces.…”