The compositional variation in a reference collection of glass tableware and bottles from the Netherlands, spanning the period 1500 -1900 AD was analyzed using hand-held XRF. Variations in the alkalis are reflected in the relationships...
moreThe compositional variation in a reference collection of glass tableware and bottles from the Netherlands, spanning the period 1500 -1900 AD was analyzed using hand-held XRF. Variations in the alkalis are reflected in the relationships between CaO, K 2 O, Rb and Sr. Timelines show major changes in glass composition c.1680. This time period saw the introduction of transparent lead glass and the start of a trend towards cleaner raw materials, mostly for tableware. It also saw the separate emergence of (green) bottle glass, characterized by high contents of Fe 2 O 3 . KEYWORDS Alkali, bottles, hand-held XRF, post medieval glass, tableware, The Netherlands.