Manganese brown decorations in 10th to 18th century Spanish tin glazed ceramics

•Study and identification of manganese brown pigments of ancient glazes•SR–XRD and SEM to identify crystalline phases into glazes•Kentrolite, braunite, bustamite and hausmannite as fingerprints of ancient technology

In this study we will show the differences in the technology of production of the manganese decorated glazes from early black and green Caliphal pottery (10–11th century AD) from Murcia; green and brown Hispano–Moresque productions (13–14th century AD) from Valencia and Catalonia; and manganese brown decorations (17th century AD) from Barcelona. SEM–EDX and μ-X-ray diffraction performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) have been carried out on polished thin cross sections (about 50 μm thick) of the decorated glazes. Braunite, kentrolite, bustamite and hausmannite have been identified in the brown decorations. Differences and similarities in the nature and microstructure are presented and related to differences in the production process.