Provenance and Technical Studies of Mexican Majolica Using Elemental and Phase Analysis

Abstract

One hundred nine majolica sherds from excavations at the Mexico City Cathedral and from Metro construction in Mexico City have been analyzed by d.c. plasma-optical emission spectrography. Many of the sherds have been studied petrographically and by x-ray diffraction. Earlier studies of majolica from Spain and from sites in Venezuela and in the Caribbean by instrumental neutron activation analysis did not involve complete determinations of major elements or extensive phase analysis. Subsequent work showed concentrations of calcium (as calcium oxide) of as much as 24% in both imported and locally produced pottery and the presence of calcium silicates diopside and gehlenite, which were produced during firing. This finding suggests that a calcareous clay was involved in majolica production both in Spain and in Mexico. Field work in Mexico has revealed that majolica is produced today using two kinds of clay, one calcareous, which are mixed together. Firing studies of these clays are reported.

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