Using optical coherence tomography to characterize thick-glaze structure: Chinese Southern Song Guan glaze case study

Abstract

This study explores the structure characteristics of thick glaze, in terms of the case study of Chinese Southern Song Guan (SSG) ware, focusing on the bubble and its media structure, using a novel focus-tracking optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The OCT images we obtained not only unveil the structural uniqueness of the thick-glaze SSG sample, but also establish a distinguishable structural pattern for aiding authentication. In addition, information revealed in our images provides a logical explanation for the subtle texture and tone of SSG glaze as well as insights into the technologies used in layering and firing these thick glazes.

Keywords:

• Optical coherence tomography
• OCT
• Bubble structure
• Glaze
• Southern Song
• Guan ware
• China

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ms Deng and Shen of the Southern Song Dynasty Imperial Kiln Museum and Mr Tang of the Hangzhou Museum and Hangzhou Archaeology Institute, who provided the first author of this study the opportunity to observe SSG shards and wares. In addition, they also thank Mr Wang, a retired archeologist at Hangzhou, who accompanied the first author on visits SSG kiln sites. Finally, the authors thank the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) for providing funding for this study.