Comparative study on old white porcelains produced in Gwangju (Korea) and Arita (Japan) in the 15th to 19th centuries

Abstract The production technology of white porcelains was introduced in Arita, Japan, from the Korean Peninsula in the beginning of the 17th century. The production of clay for Arita white porcelain from porcelain stone was strongly influenced by the production technology for old Korean white porcelain. To compare the chemical and mineral properties of old Korean and Arita white porcelains and the raw clay materials, old white porcelain shards excavated from some kilns at Gwangju-si (Korea) and Arita were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. From the chemical analysis, it was found that white clay derived from weathered granite was used as raw clay for old Korean porcelain and white clay produced from rhyolite stone was used for old Arita porcelain. Old Korean porcelain had higher content of Al2O3 compared with old Arita porcelain, and it was estimated that kaolin was added to the white clay used in Korean white porcelains. The molar ratio of Fe2O3/MgO against SiO2/Al2O3 in old Korean porcelains was approximately 0.8, and cristobalite was not formed in all old Korean white porcelains studied. The average particle sizes of quartz in old Korean and Arita white porcelains were 8–13 μm.