In materials analysis, it's often the trace elements that tell the tale | |||||
Re: Chinese Cloisonné -- Beadman | Post Reply | Edit | Forum | Where am I? |
The fluorite crystals in the turquoise cloisonne glass enamel is of interest, as fluorspar has a long history of use in Chinese ceramics.
Per Wikipedia:
Major fluorspar deposits are located in South Africa, Mexico, China and Mongolia. Historically, the mineral was used in ceramics manufacture as a fluxing agent, helping the enamel stick to porcelain in the firing process. ... The mineral itself is known as fluorite, its chemical symbol is CaF2, calcium fluoride.