Veiga, JPCoutinho, MLCoentro, S.Silva, Teresa2024-12-262024-12-262024-08Veiga, J.P., Coutinho, M.L., Coentro, S. & Silva, T.P. (2024) Decoding Portuguese Azulejos: the intersection of art, history, and science. In: ECM34: 34th European Crystallographic Meeting, Padova, Italy, 26-30 august, 2024http://hdl.handle.net/10400.9/4414ABSTRACT: In recent decades, the production techniques of azulejos (Portuguese glazed tiles with predominantly blue color) remain a subject of ongoing research. Combining historical research with advanced analytical techniques, this communication aims to show that pigments and materials that define the azulejo colour palette, along with their production recipes and the chemical and structural composition of the glazed tiles. This communication highlights the application of synchrotron radiation to the analysis of Portuguese azulejos. Some examples will be presented, namely the Co and Cu K-edge Xray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) results performed on glazed tiles from the Fronteira Palace, in Lisbon and the speciation of pigments from Pena National Palace, Sintra. The speciation state of certain chemical elements provides an understanding of their role as chromophores, glass network formers or modifiers, contributing to a deeper knowledge of the production techniques, provenance, and the tiles’ history of use. The non-destructiveness nature allied to the high-resolution capabilities of synchrotron radiation chemical imaging offer a unique tool for investigating cultural heritage materials, enhancing our understanding of their composition, structure, and degradation processes, and contributing to their long-term preservation and interpretation for future conservation efforts.engCeramicsPortuguese glassesXANESX-ray fluorescenceSynchrotron radiatonCultural heritageconference object