Ancient Portuguese Ceramic Wall Tiles (“Azulejos”): Characterization of the Glaze and Ceramic Pigments

• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/jnanor.8.79
• Publication Date: 2009-09-14T18:38:35Z
• Authors: M. Pereira; T. de Lacerda-Arôso; M.J.M. Gomes; A. Mata; L.C. Alves; Philippe Colomban
• Keywords: Ceramic tiles; Characterization; Polychrome; Ceramic glaze

Ancient ceramic wall tiles, called “azulejo”, firstly used on Portuguese churches, monasteries and palaces (15-18th century) have progressively been in particular houses till the last century. These tiles its use huge decorative panels can be considered as a precious but fragile cultural heritage from Brazil to India, several countries influenced by culture. Morphologically, these are composed porous clay-based body, terracotta, covered protective glassy phase, glaze. As artistic paintings, murals incorporated various kinds of pigments glaze layer create pictorial impact walls rich or real durable monumental works-of-art. In 21st century, degradation marks visible because their under corrosive conditions (moisture, atmospheric cycles…) along centuries. order promote conservation enhance restoration, physical-chemical characterization azulejos is performed present work, using mainly non-destructive processes like micro-Raman spectroscopy X-Ray diffraction. particular, Raman allows detection some nano/microcrystals amorphous due opacifying agents related elaboration process azulejo. Based observation selected fragments, one states that very few colouring this art during 17-18th Thus, relationship between different colours, introduced structural aspects glass will focused. Some features with ancient technology also discussed.