Celtic glasses of different colors, opaque or transparent, in the form of b
eautiful ornaments were characterized according to elemental composition by
energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis. This analytical technique i
s nearly non-destructive and was the method of choice for this project. The
Celtic glasses were loaned for the time of analysis by museums and private
collections under the guarantee that no harm would be done to the objects.
The main goal was to establish a reliable analytical method to achieve qua
litative and quantitative results within acceptable errors. The historical
and physical background is given and describes the motivation for this task
. Preliminary tests carried out before the series measurements started are
described and show that within a certain error range good results can be ex
pected from samples of different shapes, with uneven or rough surfaces. Exp
erimental conditions for the determination of light elements and subsequent
extension to medium- and high-Z elements are described. The results from t
he test studies and for selected samples with various colors and shapes are
presented. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.