A. Guilherme

Characterisation of foxing stains in eighteenth to nineteenth century drawings using non-destructive techniques

The reddish-brown, brown or yellowish stains of circular or irregular shape known as foxing spots have been fully described in conservation literature but still, this phenomenon does not find any scientific agreement since many hypotheses have been raised concerning their origin. In this work a contribution to foxing definition not only focussed on its appearance but also reported on its chemical information. For this purpose foxing stains present in drawings from two Portuguese artists dated from the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries were observed under ultra-violet light and optical microscope and analysed by three non-invasive spectroscopy techniques. The observations carried out on the stains provided information on their surface morphology. The use of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence revealed a variation on the elemental content between foxing and paper region. Although the results from X-ray diffraction analysis showed no signs of cellulose degradation in foxing stains, Fourier-transformed infrared analysis revealed the presence of oxide groups. Both the information on the chemical nature and surface morphology of the stains achieved in this study will contribute to increase foxing formation information and develop future protocols for conservation purposes.

Synchrotron micro-XRF with Compound Refractive Lenses (CRLs) for tracing key elements on Portuguese glazed ceramics

Several glazed ceramic fragments (XVIth to XVIIIth centuries) from two production centers in Portugal (Coimbra and Lisbon) were the object of this study. The ones from Coimbra comprise two sets of samples: faiences and tiles. The ones from Lisbon are only tiles (azulejos, in Portuguese). The three main divisions of such pieces are the ceramic support (body), glaze and surface decoration. The system decoration/glaze is not easy to investigate, due to the high heterogeneity resulting from the mixing procedures and firing temperatures used. Moreover, the ability of the pigment to diffuse into the base glaze varies depending on the composition of both the pigment and the glaze in terms of fusibility. In order to raster these effects, high resolution techniques are required. In this work, synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) analysis was performed to monitor the profiles of the characteristic elements from the colors used and the glaze in well prepared cross-sections of the samples. Key elements are: Co for blue, Mn for purple, Cu for green, Sb for yellow, Pb for the glaze and Fe for the body. The major difference observed is that faiences have glaze thicknesses between 150 and 200 μm and tiles have glaze thicknesses between 350 and 400 μm. Furthermore, in faiences all the pigments except the yellow ones are well dispersed into the glassy matrix, while in tiles, all of them are just partially diffused throughout the glaze. However, differences between the tiles from Coimbra and Lisbon were observed. In the samples from Lisbon, a higher intake from the pigment throughout the glaze is observed.

Micro-XRF for characterization of Moroccan glazed ceramics and Portuguese tiles

A set of enamelled terracotta samples (Zellij) collected from five different monuments in Morocco were object of study. With the aim of characterizing these typically Moroccan artistic objects, X-ray spectroscopic techniques were used as analytical tool to provide elemental and compound information. A lack of information about these types of artistic ceramics is found by the research through international scientific journals, so this investigation is an opportunity to fulfill this gap. For this purpose, micro-Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (μ-EDXRF), and wavelength dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were the chosen methods. As complementary information, a comparison with other sort of artistic pottery objects is given, more precisely with Portuguese glazed wall tiles (Azulejos), based in the Islamic pottery traditions. Differences between these two types of decorative pottery were found and presented in this manuscript.

Elemental mapping of moroccan enameled terracotta tile works (Zellij) based on X-ray micro-analyses

The purpose of this work is the elemental mapping of enameled terracotta samples (Zellij), produced between the 13th and 20th centuries in Morocco, collected from five different monuments from Marrakech. These pieces were analyzed by two non-destructive micro X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers, aiming to obtain elemental distribution and elemental composition. From the obtained spectra we have identified the main elements present in the tin-opacified lead glaze. The identification of the decoration colors is based on the different ratios between the fluorescence lines of the main component of the glaze (Pb-Lα line) and the fluorescence lines of the main components of the pigment (Co-Kα, Mn-Kα, Ni-Kα,… lines). The semi-quantitative calculations based on these ratios revealed significant differences between modern and ancient samples.

Morphological and compositional features of blue and yellow pigments used in Portuguese glazed ceramics by SEM/EDX – unravelling manufacturing differences

Morphological and compositional features regarding blue and yellow pigments used in glazed ceramics from Portugal are investigated by means of a SEM/EDX system. Fragments of samples produced in the main pottery-making centres between the XVI–XVIII centuries (Lisbon and Coimbra) were the objects of study. The main question to be answered is whether there are differences in the manufacturing procedures employed. For this purpose, two types of samples were analysed: faiences and wall-tiles (the famous “Azulejos”, in Portuguese). Differences between the manufacturing techniques of the two production centres were veritably found. The expected linkage between Fe–Co–Ni–As–Bi was challenging to investigate. Thus, Co was found in Fe- or Ni-rich structures, but with no structural connection to As or Bi. However, the As-needle-like structures were always identified in blue regions. One interesting finding related particularly to the blue pigment was the presence of SnO2 agglomerates throughout the whole glaze, which suggests its intentional addition for “lightening” the well known dark Co blue. Concerning the yellow pigment differences established in the crystal shape and size are indicative of different firing temperatures used.