Because of our firm commitment to bring you the highest quality Asian antiques, we offer Oxford Authentication Certificates for several pieces in our gallery.

Thermoluminescence Testing by Oxford Authentication Ltd.

Small powder samples from ancient objects such as pottery, porcelain, and bronze casting cores can be used to accurately determine the time at which a piece was created. These powder samples, usually taken from an inconspicuous area of the object, will emit a faint blue light when heated at high temperatures. This light is known as thermoluminescence (TL) and is measured using a sensitive detector and expert analysis. The intensity of the TL signal is proportional to the time that has elapsed since the material was last heated, thereby pinpointing when the piece was created. For more information, see Oxford Authentication Ltd. at: http://www.oxfordauthentication.com.