Chromogenic mechanisms in blue-and-white porcelains. Issue 15 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinto, Ariane; Groenen, Jesse; Zhao, Bing; Zhu, Tiequan; Sciau, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 40:Issue 15(2020)
• Page Start: 6181
• Page End: 6187
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Chinese porcelains -- Blue pigment -- Spinel -- Cobalt aluminate -- Raman spectroscopy; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.06.065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: The blue underglaze decorations of Chinese blue-and-white porcelains are due to the use of a cobalt-based blue pigment. Nevertheless, for a same time period and production centre, wares can present wide colour variations in both hue and intensity. Fourteen Ming samples were investigated using colorimetry, Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDS, in order to better understand the origin of these variations. The majority of the sherds dates back to the middle 15th- early 16th century. The chromogenic mechanism of the hue and intensity variations appears to be complex and multifactorial. Six main factors have been identified: the elemental composition of the pigment particles, in particular the Fe/Co ratio, the pigment spinel structure, the size as well as the distribution of the colouring particles, the environment of the pigment particles and the colour of the glaze.