Study of chromophores of Islamic glasses from Al-Andalus (Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

The recent discovery and excavation of 12th century AD urban glass workshops in the city of Murcia (Spain) have provided good evidences of glass production in the ancient Islamic territory of Al-Andalus. Among other findings, an important amount of bulk coloured and colourless glass fragments were unearthed during the archaeological works undertaken. This research presents the results obtained in the characterization of the chromophores responsible of the different colours found in the glass ensemble, namely turquoise blue, green bluish, emerald green, purple, yellow and red. The main goal of the study was to get some insights into the technology developed to obtain different colours in glasses. The resulting data have allowed the assignment of the ions responsible for each colour studied and have provided outstanding information on the colouring techniques used by the Islamic glassmakers of Al-Andalus.