The technology of frit making in Iznik

The term frit refers to a fused material produced from silica and flux, which is served as, intermediates in the manufacture of glaze, glass and faience. The frit is crushed and used for making glazes and stonepaste, which is also known as fritware. In this research frits and vitreous materials from a kiln excavation site in Iznik have been studied through the SEM-EDS and SEM microprobe analysis. This study has been based on the examination of the composition and microstructure of the samples to elucidate the production technology in terms of the materials used and the firing procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the technology of frit making in Iznik and to find the relation between the composition of frits to those of the glazes of Iznik tiles and ceramics. Some of the analysed samples are found to be alkaline lead frits containing tin that is very consistent with the glazes of Iznik tiles and ceramics. The others are soda lime frits which were most probably used in the stonepaste body.