This paper assesses the impact of European ceramics on preexisting American potting technologies.
Specifically we investigate the technological features of pigments used for production of colonial
American majolica. In order to achieve this goal, majolica sherds from Puebla (4), and Oaxaca (2), both in
Mexico, from Antigua ...»»»»
This paper assesses the impact of European ceramics on preexisting American potting technologies.
Specifically we investigate the technological features of pigments used for production of colonial
American majolica. In order to achieve this goal, majolica sherds from Puebla (4), and Oaxaca (2), both in
Mexico, from Antigua (Guatemala) (2), from Panama (1), and from Mission San Luis (Florida) (5) were
analyzed by synchrotron micro-X-ray diffraction (m-XRD). Eleven out of these fourteen samples were also
analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The combination of micro-chemical and microstructural
techniques provides a cross sectional profile of the constituent minerals present ultimately
providing information about the nature and distribution of the pigments used in their decorations, their
dissolution in the glassy matrix, and the formation of crystalline compounds. Our results reveal significant
differences among productions.^^^^