Microchemical study of the black gloss on red- and black-figured Attic vases

The microchemistry of the black gloss decoration layer on black- and red-figured Attic vases (6th to 4th century BC) has been studied by means of selected-area x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), The results show that the Attic black gloss is obtained from an illitic clay, enriched in iron oxide particles, that is applied on the vase body and fired in an oxidizing-reducing-oxidizing cycle at a top temperature of similar to 950 degrees C, Furthermore, the results disclose the presence in the black gloss of iron grains with a complex structure, constituted hy discrete areas of single phases with Fe3+, Fe2+ and Fe-0. These particles are finely dispersed in a vitreous Al-K- and Fe-enriched silicate where also Fe-C and C-C carbon atoms are present. The information about the raw materials and the firing process shows that the production of Attic vases is important for the history of the art as well as of the ceramic technology, Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.