CSMA Ltd, materials analysis expert and subsidiary of CERAM, recently helped to provide one of the final pieces of evidence to support the authenticity of a unique Royal Doulton character jug. The jug, known as the Black Haired Clown, is the property of antique collector Mr. Peter Bellis.

The jug was manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent between 1937 & 1942 but since its discovery in 1986 doubts had existed amongst Royal Doulton experts regarding its authenticity. Mr. Bellis had discovered that during 1937 a family had commissioned Royal Doulton to paint one of their standard product clown character jugs with black hair for a special presentation to a family member who was a professional clown with distinctive black hair.

It is known that Royal Doulton produced three different coloured hair clown character jugs in white, brown and red but never in black. A technical investigation by the Doulton Quality Control Department reported that the black hair had been painted and fired onto the jug but could not state that it had been done at Royal Doulton's factory. Peter Bellis was determined to discover the truth about the jug. He realised he needed to scientifically test the black hair paint and compare it with the black paint line on the clown's ruff, a standard feature of all Royal Doulton clown character jugs. Hence Peter came to CSMA in search of an analytical method for determining the composition of the paint pigments.

CSMA scientists Dr. Robin West and Dr. Alan Brown had the nerve-wracking task of obtaining minute quantities of the black paint from the hair and ruff - using a grinding wheel and a large area of white paper to catch the tiny fragments which were then harvested using soft indium metal. Optical microscopy was used to ascertain the presence of sufficient pigment on the indium before analysis by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry on the Cameca ims 4f in CSMA's laboratory.

All the sample preparation and analysis work was carried out in one day with the final data being collected at around 10pm.

After careful analysis of many pigment particles, followed by statistical appraisal, the result was clear - the black paints used on the hair and ruff were of the same composition.

The scientific evidence provided by CSMA has led to certificated authentication of the Black-Haired Clown.

Graphical representation of the SIMS data showing comparable compositions of pigment particles taken from hair and ruff.

In Peter Bellis's own words "The whole experience was fascinating, never before has a Doulton piece been subjected to these tests and to see the tests being carried out is quite something. At the end of the day I had the wonderful news that the same paint had been used, proving beyond doubt that the jug was totally genuine."