Coatings from selected samples were investigated in order to characterize their main chemical and textural features and to acquire data to be compared with results from previous studies on samples from the same repertory (Fortina et alii, 2008).

The use of polarized light microscopy allowed investigating the textural and mineralogical features of the coatings, such as thickness, color, presence and distribution of bubbles, cracks and discontinuity. The chemical and mineralogical composition of both coatings and relics, together with the interaction of the coating with the ceramic body and the characterization of newly formed phases within the interface, have been also studied by Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) (Fig.1-2).