Recent case studies in the raman analysis of ancient ceramics: Glaze opacification in abbasid pottery, medici and 18 th century french porcelains, iznik and kütahya ottoman fritwares and unexpected lapis lazuli pigment in lajvardina wares

We demonstrate the potential of Raman spectroscopy as an on-site technique for the characterization of ancient ceramics. This non-destructive analysis offers a way to get information on the process and even sometimes on the date of ancient artifacts. Much information remains written in the microstructure of ceramics bodies and in the nanostructure of glasses, glaze and enamels. Raman signatures are specific to the technology that was applied to a given starting batch and to the process of manufacture. Recent studies that demonstrate: i) the use of cassiterite for opacification and its role in Islamic three-color wares and polychrome lustred pottery from the Abbasid to Fatimid period, ii) the invention of the “hybrid-paste porcelain ” by the Duke of Medici, known as Medici porcelain and of the “soft-paste ” porcelain by the French Manufactures in the eighteen century (Chantilly, Mennecy, Saint-Cloud), iii) the development of the underglaze pigment technology by Iznik and then Kütayha Ottoman potters; iii) the use of lapis lazuli gem as an unexpected pigment in the Iran Lajvardina wares. Finally we explore the relationship between glass makers and potters