Investigation of the Pigments and Glassy Matrix of Painted Enamelled Qing Dynasty Chinese Porcelains by Noninvasive On-Site Raman Microspectrometry

Philippe Colomban,Bing Zhao,Burcu Kırmızı,Yong Yang,Jean-Baptiste Clais,Vincent Droguet

doi:10.3390/heritage3030050

Abstract

A selection of 15 Chinese painted enameled porcelains from the 18th century (Qing dynasty) was analyzed on-site by mobile Raman and XRF microspectroscopy. The highly prized artifacts are present in the collections of the Musée du Louvre in Paris and Musée Chinois at Fontainebleau Castle in France. In the painted enamels, pigments such as Naples yellow lead pyrochlore, hematite, manganese oxide and carbon and opacifiers such as lead arsenates were detected. The glassy matrices of the enamels mainly belonged to lead-rich and lead-alkali glass types according to the Raman spectra obtained. The glaze and body phases of the porcelain artifacts were also analyzed. The detection of lead arsenate apatite in some of the blue enamels was significant, indicating the use of arsenic-rich European cobalt ores (smalt) and possibly mixing with Asian cobalt. This characteristic phase has also been identified in French soft-paste porcelains and glass decor and high-quality Limoges enamels from the same period. Based on the shape of the Raman scattering background, the presence of colloidal gold (Au° nanoparticles) was identified in red, orange and pink enamels. Different types of Naples yellow pigments were also detected with Sb-rich, Sn-rich and mixed Sb–Sn–(Zn, Fe?) compositions in the yellow enamels. The results were compared to previous data obtained on Chinese cloisonné and painted enameled metalware and Limoges enamels as well as French enameled watches.

Highlights

Technological aspects of ceramic production in the past were affected by the mastery and innovation of the local craftsmen but the transfer of technology coming out of cultural interactions between societies
UTF8gbsn We present here an on-site noninvasive Raman study of Chinese porcelain masterpieces assigned to have been produced at the beginning of the 18th century (Yongzheng (1723–1735) and beginning of Qianlong (1735–1796) reigns) belonging to the collections of the Louvre Museum and Chinese Museum at Fontainebleau Castle in France
The present on-site Raman study of intact Chinese painted enameled porcelains from the 18th century sheds light on the materials and the technology used during their production

Summary

Introduction

Technological aspects of ceramic production in the past were affected by the mastery and innovation of the local craftsmen but the transfer of technology coming out of cultural interactions between societies. This is well-reflected in the choice of the raw materials used and the firing conditions as well as in decorative processes such as enameling. Heritage 2020, 3 the venue of European craftsmen who had expertise in enameling techniques at the Qing court at the end of 17th century. Porcelain production was first achieved in China historically, the craft of enameling is generally suggested to have benefited with Western contacts as early as the 14th century via the Silk Road [10,11,12,13,14,15]

Methods

Results

Conclusion