Glazes found on ancient Nubian quartzite sculpture were characterized in a previous study by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, these objects were excavated from Kerma, the capital of ancient Kush in the early 20th century by the joint Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition. The project presented here attempts to recreate the ancient technology used to glaze quartzite with compositions determined in the previous study. Raw and fritted experimental glazes were prepared, as well as an alkali paste mixed with a copper colorant. All of the samples were fired in modern electrical kilns. After firing, samples of the glazes and their quartzite substrates were examined with SEM/EDS to see which experimental glazes and firings most closely resembled the ancient samples.
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