In situ non-invasive investigation on the painting techniques of early Meissen Stoneware

In situ, non-invasive investigations by means of portable X-ray fluorescence and fibre optic reflectance mid-infrared (mid-FTIR) spectroscopy of painted Bottger Stoneware objects have been carried out through the MOLAB transnational access to the Porcelain Collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden. It has been possible to gather information regarding the composition of the black glaze by applying a principal component analysis to the elemental analysis to distinguish between the variations of lead, iron and manganese compositions of each glaze. It has been furthermore feasible to combine molecular spectroscopy for characterization of the constituent painting materials, namely lead white as cerusite and hydrocerusite, the use of cinnabar, azurite and Prussian blue leading to a better knowledge of the state of conservation and utility of certain pigments that may give rise to chronology of the decorative artwork. The identification of oxalates namely whedellite and moolooite are assigned as degradation products relative to the decorative areas. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved