The native development of ancient Chinese glassmaking: a case study on some early lead-barium-silicate glasses using a portable XRF spectrometer

In this paper, a portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer was used for the nondestructive analysis of 41 lead-barium-silicate glass artifacts dated from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasties (475BC-220AD). These glasses mainly are ornament, funeral and ritual vessels unearthed from different provinces of China. Based on the chemical compositions obtained, the affects of surface weathering on the quantitative results, the characteristics of chemical compositions and the colorants were discussed. Meanwhile, referred to the research results reported and historical background, the raw materials, the distribution, the cause, the origin and the production center of the lead barium glass were also discussed. The present research provides new valuable information for tracing the origin and transfer of glassmaking techniques of ancient China. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.