NCJ Number
217648
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 341-348
Date Published
March 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Since skilled and sophisticated forgers are now producing a large proportion of oriental ceramics in the illegal artifact and antique trade, such that visual and hand inspection by even the most experienced specialist is unable to detect fakes, this study tested the use of a relatively nondestructive analytical technique, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), as a means of detecting the geographical origin of the materials used.
Abstract
The excellent reproducibility of the spectral "fingerprints" and consistency of isotope distribution profiles of clay bodies of porcelain from the same country confirms that LA-ICP-MS can be used to identify and classify oriental porcelains to their country of production. Minor variations in the spectral "fingerprints" of porcelains from the same country can be attributed to variations in production methods both over time and between individual potters and production kilns. Given the high monetary value of genuine Chinese Ming and Japanese Imari porcelains, the relatively nondestructive nature of the LA-ICP-MS procedure is advantageous. The technique requires the production of a laser crater, approximately 100 mm in diameter, in the porcelain, which is essentially invisible to the naked eye. Debris from this crater is analyzed with ICP-MS, producing results that can trace the substance to its geographical origin. 3 tables, 5 figures, and 18 references