Application of analytical techniques to the unveiling of the glazing technology of medieval pottery from the Belgrade Fortress

A study of medieval glazed ceramics from the Belgrade Fortress, Serbia, reveals that the glazing technology used in these early 15th-century artifacts was derived from Byzantine traditions. The ceramics, characterized by decoration styles typical of Serbian workshops, were analyzed using a combination of optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and multivariate statistical analysis. The research found that most glazes were lead-based, applied as a mixture of lead oxide and quartz to the clay body, while two samples used lead oxide alone. Brown glaze colors originated from Fe-based spinel, with copper and iron contributing to green and yellow hues. These findings were compared with ceramics from the Studenica Monastery, providing insights into the earliest known workshop in the Ras area.

Damjanovic-Vasilic, L., Bikic, V., Stojanovic, S., Bajuk-Bogdanovic, D., Dzodan, D., & Mentus, S. (2020). Application of analytical techniques to the unveiling of the glazing technology of medieval pottery from the Belgrade Fortress. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 85(10), 1329–1343. https://doi.org/10.2298/jsc200401036d