keramikprov

Keramikprov is a term used primarily in Nordic contexts to denote a sample of ceramic material prepared for testing or analysis. The word combines keramik (ceramics) and prov (test or sample) and is used in both production and research settings to refer to pieces that are not intended as finished objects but to evaluate material behavior, glaze performance, or production methods.

In manufacturing and material science, keramikprov may refer to test tiles, pellets, or small vessels produced under controlled formulations and firing schedules. These test pieces are used to measure properties such as color stability after firing, glaze adherence and compatibility, porosity and water absorption, thermal expansion, mechanical strength, and resistance to thermal shock. Results inform formulation adjustments, firing temperatures, and glaze applications, and they support quality control and process development.

In archaeology and art conservation, keramikprov describes ceramic samples or sherds selected for analysis rather than for display. Such samples may be subjected to petrographic analysis, thin-section microscopy, or compositional fingerprinting (e.g., XRF, ICP-MS) to determine clay sources, temper, manufacture techniques, and chronology. The term emphasizes the analytical rather than aesthetic function of the piece.

Etymology: from Swedish keramik (ceramics) and prov (test). Cognate terms exist in Norwegian and Danish; in English, the practice is typically described as ceramic test pieces, test tiles, or ceramic samples.