Imitation of ancient black-glazed Jian bowls (Yohen Tenmoku): Fabrication and characterization

Yohen Tenmoku is a kind of famous black glazed Jian bowls made in ancient China. Here, imitations of Oil Spot Yohen Tenmoku were sintered at about 1280 degrees C in a shuttle kiln with oxygen flow. Microstructure characteristics and chemical compositions were investigated by a combination of X-ray based and photon based characterization methods. The results showed that quartz and mullite were the main crystalline phases in the bowl bodies. At the glaze surface of the bowl, the highly reflective red iridescence and the silvery appearance of Oil Spot patterns were resulted from the precipitation of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) crystals. A detailed study has revealed the partially ordered microstructure within one Oil Spot which produced the striking optical effects. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.