Chemical Composition of Polychrome Enamels of Three Ancient Russian Bronze Items from Vladimir–Suzdal Rus’

Abstract

The basic composition of polychrome enamels of three bronze items, found on the territory of Vladimir and Suzdal Opolye (a temporal pendant, a pendant icon, and a cross), dating from the 12th–13th centuries, has been studied by atomic emission spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The items have a rich color, which made it possible to investigate the technological features of a wide range of colored enamels: white, black, gray, light gray, deep blue, red-brown, brown, green, blue-green, turquoise, and yellow. The obtained results suggest the Byzantine origin of the enamels and local production of the items themselves.