A study of provenance and dating of ancient Chinese porcelain by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

In order to extend the scope of employing major elements to study the evolution process of manufacturing techniques, we employed loyed minor and/or trace elements to study provenance and dating and to distinguish fake from original Chinese pottery and porcelain by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. In summarizing our previous work, 85 typical Chinese white porcelain objects from Jingdezhen, Dehua and Hebei (Xing, Ding and Cizou), were measured by EDXRF and further analysed statistically. We found discriminate functions for the provenance of samples among Jingdezhen, Dehua and Hebei and also samples among Xing, Ding and Cizou in Hebei. We also derived functions for dating samples among Yuan, Ming and Qing of Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain, and samples between Song to Yuan and Ming periods of Dehua white porcelain. Element ratios are suggested to be employed in all of the discriminate functions in order to minimize measurement errors and to form a fast, non-destructive, comparable and reliable method for provenance and dating of ancient porcelain. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.