Double layers glaze analysis of the Fujian export blue-and-white porcelain from the Witte Leeuw shipwreck (1613)

Abstract

Witte Leeuw was a cargo ship owned and operated by the Dutch East Indian Company. The wreck of this vessel is known for yielding a comprehensive range of Jingdezhen manufactured, blue-and-white export porcelains, particularly kraak wares; together with Fujian blue-and-white export porcelains, known as Swatow wares. A large number of ceramic fragments have been recovered from this wreck and currently reside in collections at the Rijksmuseum. For this study nine ceramic specimens were selected for further investigation, with the aim of determining the structure, composition and manufacturing process of the double-layer glazes. Both digital optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the glaze morphology and microstructure; whilst energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy was utilised to measure the spatial distribution of chemical elements and to determine bulk elemental compositions. Raman spectroscopy was also trialled, with the technique being applied to the measurement of molecular vibrations within the silicon-oxygen network and associated alkali metal oxides, with the aim of identifying potential differences in the glaze layers. Examining the ceramic specimens, the blue decorations were applied between two layers of glaze, and the majority of the blue colour extends into the outermost layer, often exhibiting dissolution in the outer layer glaze. The two layers of the glaze appear to be formulated from different compositional recipes. Some export Swatow blue-and-white wares made in the Wanli Period (1573–1620) were glazed twice and fired twice.