Swiss Stained-Glass Panels: An Analytical Study.

Area of Science:

• Art History
• Materials Science
• Archaeometry

Background:

• Swiss stained glass from the 16th-18th centuries is historically and iconographically well-documented.
• The chemical composition, raw materials, and production technology of this glass and its paints remain less understood.
• Investigating these aspects provides insight into historical artisanal practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the raw materials used in Swiss stained glass production.
• To determine the origin and provenance of the glass and its constituent materials.
• To characterize the chemical makeup of the glass paints.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of two sample sets from the Pena National Palace collection and Vitrocentre Romont.
• Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of both glass and glass paints.
• Scanning electron microscopy with electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) for paint characterization.

Main Results:

• Glass from both sample sets likely originated from the same region.
• Wood ash was identified as the primary fluxing agent in the glass.
• Analysis revealed diverse recipes for blue enamels, all utilizing cobalt ore from Schneeberg, Germany.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the material sourcing and production technology of historical Swiss stained glass.
• Identified commonalities in glass production across different collections.
• Pinpointed a specific German mining district as the source for blue enamel colorant.