Abstract

In this paper, the differences and similarities in chemical composition between façon-de-Venise glass excavated in Antwerp and two types of Venetian glass, both from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, are documented. On the basis of typological criteria alone it is not possible to distinguish imported Venetian glass from locally produced glass. For this purpose, the major element composition of Antwerp and Venetian glass was studied with EPXMA (electron probe X-ray microanalysis) and, in a second phase, these objects were also analysed for their trace element content by means of SR-XRF (synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence analysis) and LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The largest group of Antwerp objects has a composition that significantly differs from truly Venetian compositions, pointing to an important local production. However, a few objects were found that have a major composition very similar to Venetian Cristallo and a larger group corresponds to the Venetian Vitrum Blanchum composition. In order to be able to make a more clear distinction between the Antwerp Cristallo and Venetian Cristallo glass types, to verify that indeed the Antwerp and Venetian Vitrum Blanchum compositions are identical and to understand better the causes of the compositional differences among the groups, the concentrations of a number of trace elements, possibly providing clues on the raw materials, were determined.