Lusters and iridescence on ancient

potteries: Lycrugus Cup, Majolicas and

Iranian pottery
Lichiun Chang and Qianran Yu

theinvestorzone.com

iranreview.org

lead-based fired glaze

paste:clay, ochre, silver
and copper salt, vinegar
and lyes

acetic acid attack

melting of Ag/Cu-rich
liquid

local heating(~600)

luster observed
Claude Mirguet

Philippe Colomban


composition, bonding,
chemical environment,
(nano)phase, and
(nano)crystalline
structure

PIXE (Particle Induced X-Ray

Emission)
Non-destructive technique
Observes elemental composition

Arizona State

Ian Freestone

Ian Freestone

gold lustre:
70% Cu/Ag= 0.04-1
30% Cu/Ag= 4-11
red lustre:
Cu/Ag >1

www.tasteofflorence.com

Cu SPR

Ag SPR

red, Cu/Ag=1.3, peak=420

and 560 nm

gold, Cu/Ag=11,
peak=420nm
gold, Cu/Ag=0.04,
peak=420nm

G.

Padeletti

Iranian Pottery
Mixture of Ag, Cu and vinegar
Using PIXE to identify trace elements

maraltours.com

S.

Durali

Iranian Pottery

S.

Durali

References
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Lustre Pottery and Glass: Solid State Chemistry, Spectroscopy and Nanostructure, Journal of Nano Research, 8(2009), 109-132.
[2] A. Galli, M. Martini, L. Panzeri and E. Sibilia, Radioluminescence study of surface and ceramic body of lustred majolicas, Surface
Engineering, 24 (2008).
[3] P. Fermo, G. Padeletti, The Use of Nano Particles to Produce Iridescent Metallic Effects on Ancient Ceramic Objects, Journal of
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 12(2012), 8764-8769.
[4] Ian Freestone, Nigel Meeks, Margaret Sax and Catherine Higgitt, The Lycurgus Cup- A Roman Nanotechnology, Gold Bulletin, 2007.
[5]Ulf Leonhardt, Optical Metamaterials: Invisibility cup, Nature Photonics, 38(2007), 207-208.
[6] Gillian Walters and Ivan P. Parkin, The incorporation of noble metal nanoparticles into host matrix thin films: synthesis,
characterization and applications
[7] G. Padeletti, P. Fermo, S. Gilardoni, Technological investigation of luster decorated ancient majolicas, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 712
(2012).
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[10] N.D. X-Ray Emission: Earth. Moon, and Mars. Patterns in Nature-Arizona State University. (1995-2000)
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Scientific Publishing Company, (2002).
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Characterisation of Decorations on Iranian (10th13th century) Lusterware, Applied Physics A-Materials Science & Processing, (2004).