Browsing by Author "Norris, Dana"
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Item Open Access The composition and technology of polychrome enamels on Chinese ruby‐backed plates identified through nondestructive micro‐X‐ray fluorescence(Wiley, 2020-03-12) Norris, Dana; Braekmans, Dennis; Domoney, Kelly; Shortland, Andrew J.This research presents non‐destructive analyses of Chinese enamelled copper and porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels. This study utilises two key, high‐value art works with complex enamelling in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK) to elucidate the composition and technology of objects with ruby‐backed decoration. These plates date from early Qing dynasty and are associated with the Yongzheng (1723–1735) and early Qianlong (1735–1796) periods. The goal of this research is to investigate the hypothesis that ruby‐backed plates in these two mediums are decorated with the same enamels and possibly manufactured in mutual enamelling workshops, which is a current topic of debate among scholars. Ten different enamel colours and the gilding on each plate were analysed and evaluated with micro‐X‐ray fluorescence to study the opacifiers and pigments. The results show that the enamels on these two works utilise the same opacifier and the consistent pigments in the white, ruby, pink, green, yellow, turquoise green, and blue enamels. Compositional differences were identified in the underdrawings, purple enamels, and gilding. The results demonstrate that Chinese painted enamels and overglazes on porcelain share mutual technology in most, but not all, of the polychrome decoration, which impacts upon our knowledge of technological organisation in the manufacture of these objects. Micro‐X‐ray fluorescence has been shown to be an effective and robust technique for the nondestructive study of decorative surfaces in these two material types.Item Open Access Emulation and technological adaptation in late 18th century Cloisonné-style Chinese painted enamels(Wiley, 2022-01-23) Norris, Dana; Braekmans, Dennis; Shortland, Andrew J.Cloisonné-style motifs are rare and enigmatic in Chinese painted enamels because of their distinct technological development at the end of the 18th century. Five late Qianlong to Jiaqing period (1736–1820) Chinese painted enamels with cloisonné-style motifs are investigated using environmental scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Back-scattered electron images and elemental analysis are combined to study the decorative enamelled surface. The compositions of the layers within the enamel, that of the counter enamel and the polychrome decoration on the surface are determined and identified. Fluorine and elevated amounts of calcium were detected, indicating that fluorite was likely used as a raw material. The presence of this mineral, which is typical of Chinese cloisonné, confirms that these objects share both aesthetic and technological relationships.Item Open Access Illuminating the imperceptible, researching Mina’i ceramics with digital imaging techniques(MDPI, 2021-11-08) Norris, Dana; Watson, OliverMina’i ceramics dating to the late 12th and early 13th century made in the Kashan region of Iran represent a novel period of overglaze enamelling technology in ceramic history. New colours were used to produce stylistically attractive and dynamic polychrome motifs. Due to their archaeological context, and popularity in the art market since the mid-20th century, these objects often have complex conditions involving reconstruction and overpainting. The aesthetic and technological significance of these pieces warrants further study, but in practice, removing restorations can lead to structural destabilisation, requiring time-consuming and potentially unplanned for conservation treatment. To determine if it is possible to gain useful information from the study of these artworks without disturbing existing restorations, a group of objects were drawn from the Sarikhani and Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology collections. The objective of this project was twofold, first to assess the merits of the imaging techniques for understanding condition, and second to propose a protocol for imaging with the aim of encouraging collaborative projects with international partners. The techniques used in this study include digital photography under visible and ultraviolet light, infrared reflectography, and radiography. The results show that important information invisible to the naked eye can be obtained about the decorative surfaces, using ultraviolet light and infrared reflectography. Digital radiography proved to be equally effective when studying the condition of the ceramic body. The results of this project were used to produce guidance on these techniques as a collaborative documentation package for the study of Mina’i ceramics.Item Open Access “The Illusion of an Authentic Experience”: A luster bowl in the Ashmolean museum(Brill, 2019-11-20) Leoni, Francesca; Norris, Dana; Domoney, Kelly; Matin, Moujan; Shortland, Andrew J.; Necipoglu G, Metzler MJItem Open Access The influence of Qing glass technology on Qianlong and Jiaqing painted enamel copperwares(Elsevier, 2023-04-21) Norris, Dana; Delbey, ThomasThe white enamel surfaces of ten Chinese painted enamels dating to the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods (1736–1820) were studied with Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). These enamels are opacified with lead arsenate, a dramatic change in technology from fluorite and lead stannite opacification used in Chinese and European enamels before the 18th century. The primary goal of this project was to test the hypothesis that boron is a significant component in Chinese painted enamels. Borax (Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O) was used by glassmakers working in the imperial workshops in Beijing in the mid-18th century, and boron has been detected in some examples of Qing glass and enamels. Quantitative analyses of major, minor, and trace level elements were carried out with LA-ICPMS. Three compositional groups were identified by the amount of borax in the enamel: high borax (at 6.7% B2O3), low borax (up to 1.3% B2O3), and borax free. The results show that it is possible to distinguish between objects made in Beijing and Guangzhou through elemental analysis, and that there are two distinct compositional groups of Chinese painted enamel produced in Guangzhou during this period.Item Open Access Self-seal laser ablation open cell for trace elements analysis of full-size archaeological artefacts: application on Famille Rose enamel(Elsevier, 2024-12) Delbey, Thomas; Norris, Dana; Douglas, David; Shortland, AndrewLaser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a technique that is increasingly becoming the standard analytical approach in archaeological science, especially for the analysis of glass, glaze, and metal. Its low detection limits, high precision and wide element range is twinned with a very small sample size, which makes it ideal for culturally valuable objects. However, in the past, the small sample chamber size in commercial laser systems has meant that the size of object that could be analysed is very limited. Ongoing work by various groups has demonstrated the potential of open architecture and portable systems to overcome this issue. This paper reports an example of this − the results of a validation on a self-seal open ablation cell coupled with a very large sample chamber developed by Cranfield University and Elemental Scientific Lasers LLC. Comparison of the analysis of standard reference materials between the self-seal open cell and a conventional closed cell in a two-volume chamber show that, the count rates for most elements drop in the open cell to between 40–70% with our configuration, but precision, accuracy, fractionation, and limits of detection are barely affected. This means that the result outputs of both chambers are very similar and shows that the open cell is a very real solution to the problem of the small sample chambers in conventional LA-ICP-MS facilities. The functionality of the open cell is demonstrated using a case study of two Chinese, polychrome enamelled copperwares dating from the late 18th or early 19th century Qianlong or Jiaqing period, a tray and a writing set. Due to conservation work on the pieces, five small enamel samples were available, which meant that the results derived from these samples in the conventional laser chamber could be compared to results from the objects themselves in the large sample chamber. Time resolved analysis was carried out giving more information on the thickness of enamel layers and variability between colours and across the object demonstrating the usefulness of having large, complete objects in the chamber.Item Open Access Technological connections in the development of 18th and 19th century Chinese painted enamels(Elsevier, 2022-03-04) Norris, Dana; Braekmans, Dennis; Shortland, Andrew J.Chinese painted enamel is an artistic tradition of enamelled copperwares developed during the Kangxi period (1662–1722), commonly referred to as Canton enamel after the Wade-Giles spelling of Guangzhou. In this study, enamel fragments from areas of damage in the decorated surface of ten Chinese painted enamel objects dating to the 18th and early 19th century in the collections of the Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam Museums were non-destructively analysed with ESEM-EDX (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy). After analysis, the enamel fragments were reattached to the objects using a conservation grade adhesive. Quantitative EDX elemental analysis is presented for the white enamel, underdrawings, eight painted enamel colours, outlines, and gilding. The enamel-glass composition, opacifier and colourants are discussed and compared to ceramic, glass, and enamelled metal technologies in use during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The results show that Chinese painted enamels combine Chinese and European technology to create a new and distinct art form.Item Metadata only Technology and conservation of Chinese painted enamels(2021-07) Norris, Dana; Shortland, A.; Braekmans, DChinese painted enamels are studied in this thesis with the goal of improving their conservation. To do this the material was studied through elemental analysis using two X-ray Fluorescence techniques and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry. All three techniques used in this study are non-destructive. The analytical sample set includes 131 examples dating from the inception of the technique in the early 18th century to modern production in the 21st century. Characterisation is used in this thesis to compare the compositions of each Chinese painted enamel colour to related artistic traditions including Chinese glass, cloisonné, overglaze enamels on porcelain, Limoges painted enamels and a late 17th century German painted enamel. Research on related materials was done with the aim of identifying the technological predecessors and exchanges for each colour in the palette. The results illuminate complexity in the development of the technique, which draws heavily on both Chinese and European technology. Manufacturing techniques, construction and degradation are documented through examination of artworks in museum collections, providing insight on the technical art history of the medium and its inherent vulnerabilities. Observations on condition have been used to recognise trends in degradation and link them to specific agents of decay and innate weaknesses from manufacturing. The results show that Chinese painted enamels are particularly vulnerable to physical force which occurs during handling and inappropriate support while on display or in storage. To mitigate future damage, recommendations on environmental conditions are made regarding temperature, humidity, and light levels.