Judit Molera
Biographic Data
| ID | 95797 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Judit Molera |
| GIVEN NAMES | Judit |
| FAMILY NAME | Molera |
| SIGNATURE | MOLERA J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3116-0456 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 29 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 233 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 29 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1991 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 8 |
Hidden in the Glaze
This study investigates technological evolution in 16th–18th century Catalan tin glazes and cobalt blue decorations. Analysis reveals three glaze strategies, highlighting shifts in tin oxide use and cobalt pigment composition. In the 16th century, tin oxide acted as an opacifier and cobalt pigments exhibit low arsenic content with CoO/NiO and CoO/FeO ratios around 1.2. The 17th century shows residual tin and increasing manganese in pigments, whil…
Validating Dental Histology for Perinatal Age Estimation Using Human Deciduous Teeth
Cobalt rich phases formed in processing natural erythrite at high temperatures
Multi-analytical characterisation of erythrite from Bou Azzer ores. • Determination of phases formed in processing natural erythrite at high temperatures. • Replication of zaffer and treatment recipes using erythrite, borax, and calcite to assess the crystalline phases formed during heating and the amount of arsenic loss. • Characterisation of crystalline and amorphous phases during and after heat treatment by: XRF, XRPD, SR-XRD and SEM-EDS. • As…
Trace elements, maturation processes and diagenesis in human deciduous incisors
Reconstructing infant mortality in Iberian Iron Age populations from tooth histology
The Neonatal Line (NNL) of the tooth serves as a unique identifier, allowing us to distinguish whether a child survived birth. This line is essential for assessing the age at death of infants from skeletal remains found in archaeological contexts. Our primary objective is to accurately determine the age of infant intramural inhumations from the Iberian Iron Age (8th-1st centuries BC) by analyzing histological sections of tooth germs. Due to their…
Experimental study of historical processing of cobalt arsenide ore for colouring glazes (15-16th century Europe)
Cobalt was used since the early antiquity to tinge glass and glazes in blue. The presence of arsenic in blue decorated glazes since ~1500 onwards and absence beforehand, observed in Europe, might be related to the processing of the ore: roasting of the cobalt mineral (saffre) and obtaining a glass adding sand and potash (smalt) or as by-product of other metallurgical processes, e.g. silver smelting slag. We have replicated the roasting of cobalt …
Islamic glazed wares from ancient Termez (southern Uzbekistan). Raw materials and techniques
Ceramic technology. How to characterise ceramic glazes
Glaze technology in the medieval and post-medieval Mediterranean
Glaze production at an early Islamic workshop in al-Andalus
Technological implications of neo-formed hematite crystals in ceramic lead glazes
Hexagonal neo-formed crystallites have been observed in thin section of different medieval and post-medieval lead-glazed ceramics. Although they are clearly visible in thin section using plane polarized light, their plate shape makes them barely seen on the polished cross sections. Basal sections have never been found on the polished sections and only few transversal very thin sections could be seen. In this case, the morphology resembles acicula…
Glazes, colourants and decorations in early Islamic glazed ceramics from the Vega of Granada (9th to 12th centuries CE)
The Glaze Technology of Hispano‐Moresque Ceramic Tiles
For the first time, Hispano‐Moresque glazed tiles from Portuguese and Spanish collections were studied together and compared. This work is included in a wider study tackling the technology of Hispano‐Moresque tile production from several collections in the Iberian Peninsula. While showing many similarities, differences were identified between collections, regarding both chemical and morphological characteristics. The collection from the Mosteiro …
Composition of the Lustre Pigment Used in the Production Of 13th Century AD Raqqa Lustreware from Syria
The very rare find of the relic of the original lustre pigment attached to the glazed surface of a sherd of 13th century ad Raqqa type lustreware from Syria has been analysed using a combination of analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). The composition of the pigment relic inferred from these analyses is shown to match those of recipes for lustre production gi…
Potters and pigments
Technology of Islamic lustre
Early Islamic lustre from Egypt, Syria and Iran (10th to 13th century AD)
The invention of lustre
Lustre Colour and Shine From the Olleries Xiques Workshop in Paterna (Spain), 13th Century Ad
Lustre is a medieval ceramic decoration, corresponding to a nanostructured thin layer formed by metallic copper and silver nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix, which required deep knowledge on the part of the artisans with regard to the raw materials used and the kiln conditions. Their empirical knowledge led to the achievement of colourful lustre decorations ranging from reddish to yellowish or even greenish, some of them with a metallic shi…
Interactions between Clay Bodies and Lead Glazes
A set of laboratory experiments has been developed to determine the nature and importance of the interaction between clay bodies and lead glazes during firing following different thermal paths (firing time and temperature, cooling rates) and using different glaze compositions and different bodies (illitic, kaolinitic, and calcareous clays). It is shown that the interaction consists of a digestion/diffusion process. This process involves (i) decom…
Chemical and Textural Characterization of Tin Glazes in Islamic Ceramics from Eastern Spain
Lustre Recipes from A Medieval Workshop in Paterna
The discovery of the workshop ‘Les Olleries Xiques’ in Paterna has provided a unique opportunity to analyse the raw materials, and in particular the recipes used in the production of the lustre decorations. Chemical and phase analyses of lustre raw materials and of lustre decorations belonging to the workshop pottery are shown. A comparison with existing ancient documentation on lustre recipes is also presented
Optical Properties of Tin‐opacified Glazes
Tin glazes contain SnO2 particles, with a diameter similar to the wavelength of visible light, which are responsible for glaze opacification. In this paper a theoretical model to explain the optical behaviour of these glazes is developed. This model is tested by measurement of the reflectance and transmittance spectra for different optical paths in Spanish Islamic and mudejar glazed ceramics and it is shown to be valid by total reflectance non‐de…
The colours of Ca-rich ceramic pastes
Lead Glazes in Antiquity—methods of Production and Reasons for Use
Transparent high lead and tin‐opacified lead‐alkali glazes have been extensively used throughout Europe and the Near East from their first appearance in the Roman era and the tenth‐ to eleventh‐century Islamic world, respectively, up until the present day. Using, to a large extent, information which is widely scattered through a diverse range of literature, the methods employed in the production of these two glaze types are first outlined and the…
Lead Glazes in Antiquity—methods of Production and Reasons for Use
Transparent high lead and tin‐opacified lead‐alkali glazes have been extensively used throughout Europe and the Near East from their first appearance in the Roman era and the tenth‐ to eleventh‐century Islamic world, respectively, up until the present day. Using, to a large extent, information which is widely scattered through a diverse range of literature, the methods employed in the production of these two glaze types are first outlined and the…
Ceramic technology. How to characterise ceramic glazes
Chemical and Textural Characterization of Tin Glazes in Islamic Ceramics from Eastern Spain
Glaze production at an early Islamic workshop in al-Andalus
Technology and Colour Development of Hispano‐moresque Lead‐glazed Pottery
Lead‐glazed pottery from the medieval workshop of Les Olleries Majors (Paterna, Spain) has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence and optical spectroscopy. Yellow, brown and honey‐coloured glazes occur on pots glazed on only one surface. They have virtually identical compositions and transmittance spectra, their apparent differences in colour are due to the colours of the underlying pastes. Yellow glazes occ…
Early Islamic lustre from Egypt, Syria and Iran (10th to 13th century AD)
The invention of lustre
Proto‐campanian and A‐campanian Ceramics
Potters and pigments
Dating Ancient Lime Mortars by Geochemical and Mineralogical Analysis
This paper proposes a method of dating based on the study of the mineralogy and geochemistry of lime mortars. If the mortars used in constructing the various parts of a building are made from limestones of distinct geochemistry (minor elements) and mineralogy (clay content), such differences should be identifiable in their compositions. Furthermore, if some parts of the building can be reliably dated, the mortars used in their construction can be…
Glazes, colourants and decorations in early Islamic glazed ceramics from the Vega of Granada (9th to 12th centuries CE)
Optical Properties of Tin‐opacified Glazes
Tin glazes contain SnO2 particles, with a diameter similar to the wavelength of visible light, which are responsible for glaze opacification. In this paper a theoretical model to explain the optical behaviour of these glazes is developed. This model is tested by measurement of the reflectance and transmittance spectra for different optical paths in Spanish Islamic and mudejar glazed ceramics and it is shown to be valid by total reflectance non‐de…
Experimental study of historical processing of cobalt arsenide ore for colouring glazes (15-16th century Europe)
Cobalt was used since the early antiquity to tinge glass and glazes in blue. The presence of arsenic in blue decorated glazes since ~1500 onwards and absence beforehand, observed in Europe, might be related to the processing of the ore: roasting of the cobalt mineral (saffre) and obtaining a glass adding sand and potash (smalt) or as by-product of other metallurgical processes, e.g. silver smelting slag. We have replicated the roasting of cobalt …
Lustre Recipes from A Medieval Workshop in Paterna
The discovery of the workshop ‘Les Olleries Xiques’ in Paterna has provided a unique opportunity to analyse the raw materials, and in particular the recipes used in the production of the lustre decorations. Chemical and phase analyses of lustre raw materials and of lustre decorations belonging to the workshop pottery are shown. A comparison with existing ancient documentation on lustre recipes is also presented
Hispano‐moresque Pottery Production of the Fourteenth‐century Workshop of Testar Del Molí (Paterna, Spain)
Excavation of Testar del Molí, the only workshop found in the Manises‐Paterna area, revealed the existence of a fourteenth‐century ceramic workshop covering the remains of the thirteenth‐century workshop. This study is concerned with the fourteenth‐century production, and forthcoming papers will connect both epochs following the findings of current excavations. The chemical and mineralogical characterization of the ceramic production of this work…
Trace elements, maturation processes and diagenesis in human deciduous incisors
Reconstructing infant mortality in Iberian Iron Age populations from tooth histology
The Neonatal Line (NNL) of the tooth serves as a unique identifier, allowing us to distinguish whether a child survived birth. This line is essential for assessing the age at death of infants from skeletal remains found in archaeological contexts. Our primary objective is to accurately determine the age of infant intramural inhumations from the Iberian Iron Age (8th-1st centuries BC) by analyzing histological sections of tooth germs. Due to their…
Glaze technology in the medieval and post-medieval Mediterranean
The Glaze Technology of Hispano‐Moresque Ceramic Tiles
For the first time, Hispano‐Moresque glazed tiles from Portuguese and Spanish collections were studied together and compared. This work is included in a wider study tackling the technology of Hispano‐Moresque tile production from several collections in the Iberian Peninsula. While showing many similarities, differences were identified between collections, regarding both chemical and morphological characteristics. The collection from the Mosteiro …
Technology of Islamic lustre
Lustre Colour and Shine From the Olleries Xiques Workshop in Paterna (Spain), 13th Century Ad
Lustre is a medieval ceramic decoration, corresponding to a nanostructured thin layer formed by metallic copper and silver nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix, which required deep knowledge on the part of the artisans with regard to the raw materials used and the kiln conditions. Their empirical knowledge led to the achievement of colourful lustre decorations ranging from reddish to yellowish or even greenish, some of them with a metallic shi…
Proto‐campanian and A‐campanian Ceramics
Hispano‐moresque Pottery Production of the Fourteenth‐century Workshop of Testar Del Molí (Paterna, Spain)
Excavation of Testar del Molí, the only workshop found in the Manises‐Paterna area, revealed the existence of a fourteenth‐century ceramic workshop covering the remains of the thirteenth‐century workshop. This study is concerned with the fourteenth‐century production, and forthcoming papers will connect both epochs following the findings of current excavations. The chemical and mineralogical characterization of the ceramic production of this work…
Dating Ancient Lime Mortars by Geochemical and Mineralogical Analysis
This paper proposes a method of dating based on the study of the mineralogy and geochemistry of lime mortars. If the mortars used in constructing the various parts of a building are made from limestones of distinct geochemistry (minor elements) and mineralogy (clay content), such differences should be identifiable in their compositions. Furthermore, if some parts of the building can be reliably dated, the mortars used in their construction can be…
Technology and Colour Development of Hispano‐moresque Lead‐glazed Pottery
Lead‐glazed pottery from the medieval workshop of Les Olleries Majors (Paterna, Spain) has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence and optical spectroscopy. Yellow, brown and honey‐coloured glazes occur on pots glazed on only one surface. They have virtually identical compositions and transmittance spectra, their apparent differences in colour are due to the colours of the underlying pastes. Yellow glazes occ…
The colours of Ca-rich ceramic pastes
Lead Glazes in Antiquity—methods of Production and Reasons for Use
Transparent high lead and tin‐opacified lead‐alkali glazes have been extensively used throughout Europe and the Near East from their first appearance in the Roman era and the tenth‐ to eleventh‐century Islamic world, respectively, up until the present day. Using, to a large extent, information which is widely scattered through a diverse range of literature, the methods employed in the production of these two glaze types are first outlined and the…
Optical Properties of Tin‐opacified Glazes
Tin glazes contain SnO2 particles, with a diameter similar to the wavelength of visible light, which are responsible for glaze opacification. In this paper a theoretical model to explain the optical behaviour of these glazes is developed. This model is tested by measurement of the reflectance and transmittance spectra for different optical paths in Spanish Islamic and mudejar glazed ceramics and it is shown to be valid by total reflectance non‐de…
Interactions between Clay Bodies and Lead Glazes
A set of laboratory experiments has been developed to determine the nature and importance of the interaction between clay bodies and lead glazes during firing following different thermal paths (firing time and temperature, cooling rates) and using different glaze compositions and different bodies (illitic, kaolinitic, and calcareous clays). It is shown that the interaction consists of a digestion/diffusion process. This process involves (i) decom…
Chemical and Textural Characterization of Tin Glazes in Islamic Ceramics from Eastern Spain
Lustre Recipes from A Medieval Workshop in Paterna
The discovery of the workshop ‘Les Olleries Xiques’ in Paterna has provided a unique opportunity to analyse the raw materials, and in particular the recipes used in the production of the lustre decorations. Chemical and phase analyses of lustre raw materials and of lustre decorations belonging to the workshop pottery are shown. A comparison with existing ancient documentation on lustre recipes is also presented
The invention of lustre
Lustre Colour and Shine From the Olleries Xiques Workshop in Paterna (Spain), 13th Century Ad
Lustre is a medieval ceramic decoration, corresponding to a nanostructured thin layer formed by metallic copper and silver nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix, which required deep knowledge on the part of the artisans with regard to the raw materials used and the kiln conditions. Their empirical knowledge led to the achievement of colourful lustre decorations ranging from reddish to yellowish or even greenish, some of them with a metallic shi…
Technology of Islamic lustre
Early Islamic lustre from Egypt, Syria and Iran (10th to 13th century AD)
Potters and pigments
Composition of the Lustre Pigment Used in the Production Of 13th Century AD Raqqa Lustreware from Syria
The very rare find of the relic of the original lustre pigment attached to the glazed surface of a sherd of 13th century ad Raqqa type lustreware from Syria has been analysed using a combination of analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). The composition of the pigment relic inferred from these analyses is shown to match those of recipes for lustre production gi…
Technological implications of neo-formed hematite crystals in ceramic lead glazes
Hexagonal neo-formed crystallites have been observed in thin section of different medieval and post-medieval lead-glazed ceramics. Although they are clearly visible in thin section using plane polarized light, their plate shape makes them barely seen on the polished cross sections. Basal sections have never been found on the polished sections and only few transversal very thin sections could be seen. In this case, the morphology resembles acicula…
Glazes, colourants and decorations in early Islamic glazed ceramics from the Vega of Granada (9th to 12th centuries CE)
The Glaze Technology of Hispano‐Moresque Ceramic Tiles
For the first time, Hispano‐Moresque glazed tiles from Portuguese and Spanish collections were studied together and compared. This work is included in a wider study tackling the technology of Hispano‐Moresque tile production from several collections in the Iberian Peninsula. While showing many similarities, differences were identified between collections, regarding both chemical and morphological characteristics. The collection from the Mosteiro …
Glaze technology in the medieval and post-medieval Mediterranean
Glaze production at an early Islamic workshop in al-Andalus
Islamic glazed wares from ancient Termez (southern Uzbekistan). Raw materials and techniques
Ceramic technology. How to characterise ceramic glazes
Experimental study of historical processing of cobalt arsenide ore for colouring glazes (15-16th century Europe)
Cobalt was used since the early antiquity to tinge glass and glazes in blue. The presence of arsenic in blue decorated glazes since ~1500 onwards and absence beforehand, observed in Europe, might be related to the processing of the ore: roasting of the cobalt mineral (saffre) and obtaining a glass adding sand and potash (smalt) or as by-product of other metallurgical processes, e.g. silver smelting slag. We have replicated the roasting of cobalt …
Reconstructing infant mortality in Iberian Iron Age populations from tooth histology
The Neonatal Line (NNL) of the tooth serves as a unique identifier, allowing us to distinguish whether a child survived birth. This line is essential for assessing the age at death of infants from skeletal remains found in archaeological contexts. Our primary objective is to accurately determine the age of infant intramural inhumations from the Iberian Iron Age (8th-1st centuries BC) by analyzing histological sections of tooth germs. Due to their…
Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis (25 works) · Building materials and conservation (22 works) · Materials Science (19 works) · Metallurgy (17 works) · Mineralogy (14 works) · Archaeology (12 works) · Ceramic (12 works) · Geology (11 works) · Glaze (11 works) · Conservation Techniques and Studies (10 works)