The Origin of the use of the Tin-Glazed Earthenware Technique in the Production of the French Medieval Pavement of Suscinio
Résumé
The medieval pavement found in its original state and place at the Breton castle of Suscinio is an interesting case study for answering questions about the origin of the tin-glazed earthenware technique in France. Twenty-eight decorated tiles (with transparent and tin-opacified glazes) and eight clayey raw materials were examined using chemical and microstructural approaches involving petrographic, SEM–EDS and XRD analyses. By combining the results of provenance and technological studies with historical and archaeological data, it was possible to conclude that the pavement was a local product, made with imported technological skills, rather than an imported product or the result of local experimentation.