Lapis lazuli as unexpected blue pigment in Iranian Lajvardina ceramics

Raman analysis of an ancient ewer (Iran, 13th century) belonging to the Lajvardina blue glazed ceramics shows that the ultramarine colour results from the unexpected deposit of a lazurite-rich slip at the interface between the body and a cobalt-containing lime-rich glaze. This confirms the use of Lajvard (lapis lazuli) as reported in an old alchemist's treatise (Abu'1 Qasim Kashani, 14th century). Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.