Optical properties of high-fired glazes: composition, application methods and colouring agents (iron, titanium and copper)

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• Trinitat Pradell (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)
• Friday 13 June 2025, 13:15-14:00
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Qin-Qin Lü.

High fired lime and lime-alkali glazes produced in China are highly appreciated for their aesthetical appearance. The presentation will explore some of the most debated questions surrounding Changsha ware a Tang dynasty (9th−10th centuries) Chinese stoneware, renowned for its polychromy and pioneering high-temperature red glaze. In particular the following topics will be addressed: the coexistence of transparent and opaque glazes, the overglaze or underglaze application of the decorations, the coexistence of oxidised green and reduced red copper designs on the same object, the origin of the first high-temperature copper reds and their discontinuity; and on the reason for the development of either green or turquoise colours. The underlying reasons for the opalescent blue sky-like appearance of Jun ware glazes, a late Northern Song dynasty (12th century) ware, a subject of many studies and much debate will also be presented. We will show how, in both cases, the nano- and microstructures present and the iron, titanium and copper speciation in the glaze are responsible for the opacity and colouration. Finally, we will show how an adequate selection of the glaze composition and thickness in conjunction with the firing conditions, is responsible for them.

Bio:

Trinitat Pradell is a Materials Scientist specialist in amorphous and nanostructured materials. She has been working on the analysis, production technology and conservation state of Historical-Artistic materials, contributing data to Historical research for the last 30 years. She studied Fundamental Physics at the University of Barcelona obtaining her Ph.D. in 1992. She did some postdoctoral studies in the Institute of Advanced Materials (Petten, Holland) and enjoyed a sabbatical in the University of Oxford (UK) collaborating with prof. M.S. Tite. She became associate professor an joined the Materials Characterisation group in the Physics Department in 2002. She obtained the full professorship in 2010.

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This talk is part of the Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site

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