Tiles Across Time
Tiles Across Time offers an exceptional collection of outstanding, vibrantly colourful visual images of surface tiles, many captured in situ, and originating from the world's great ceramic-tile making centres of the past.
Visual Research and Source for Artists, Architects, and Designers
The collection provide a wealth of visual research of sources, material, design ideas and details to meet the work needs of architects and interior designers, artists, textile professionals, theatrical and film designers, illustrators, and graphic designers.
Visual Research and Source for Artists, Architects, and Designers
The collection provide a wealth of visual research of sources, material, design ideas and details to meet the work needs of architects and interior designers, artists, textile professionals, theatrical and film designers, illustrators, and graphic designers.
Mesopotamia Ancient Beginnings
Mesopotamia was an ancient region of southwestern Asia in present-day Iraq, lying between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Its alluvial plains were the site of the civilizations of Akkad, Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria.
Title: Lion made of glazed bricks, Ishtar Gate, 605-562 BC.
Order No.: A1-2714. Location: Berlim Museum
Title: Donkey made of glazed bricks, Ishtar Gate, 605-562 BC.
Order No.: A1-2714.
Location: Berlin Musuem
Greek Floor Mosaics
Title: Greek Mosaic floor of geometric designs, 2nd century AD.
Order No.: A1-9245.
Location: Katos Pafos, Cyprus.
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In this mosaic floor, the compositions are placed in a grid of squares. This greek and roman technique of structuring a composition would be adopted and adapted by Islamic craftsmen.
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Title: Gladiator, House of Achilles, 4th century AD.
Order No.: A1-9742.
Location: Kato Pafos, Cyprus.
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Title: Mosaic of Hellenistic figure, 2nd century AD.
Order No.: A1-9229.
Location: Katos Pafos, Cyprus.
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Roman Art - Mosaics
Title: Roman Floor Border Mosaic.
Order No.: A1-1744.
Location: Daphne area, Antioch (Worcester Museum, MA).
House of the Vine Scroll - Mosaic border fragment - Material stone cubes (limestone & marble) embedded in line mortar
The border is filled with a vine scroll inhabited by birds and animals, as well as a twisting ribbon of grey, pink, and yellow cubes of stone (tesserae) against a black background. Mosaicists skillfully created the illusion of a three-dimensional ribbon which echoes the curves of the scrolling vine.
Two brilliantly coloured peacocks face a basket full of grapes. As these are the only peacocks around the entire border, the artist intended to highlight their importance. Like the basket of grapes, the peacocks could simply refer to the abundance and beauty of the natural world, but they were also symbolic for the ancients. In the Roman world peacocks were linked with immortality and eternal life, perhaps because they shed their tail feathers in winter and renewed them in the spring. Symmetrically paired peacocks and inhabited vines were adapted by the early Christians for use in their churches and tombs.
Floor mosaics are often found in grand rooms that served as reception and banqueting halls. Mosaic floors were inspired by textile designs. Floral and geometric "carpet" mosaics became very popular in the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. The composition of an elaborate border surrounding a simple repeating pattern, such as scattered roses, was flexible and could be applied to rooms of all shapes and sizes.
Two brilliantly coloured peacocks face a basket full of grapes. As these are the only peacocks around the entire border, the artist intended to highlight their importance. Like the basket of grapes, the peacocks could simply refer to the abundance and beauty of the natural world, but they were also symbolic for the ancients. In the Roman world peacocks were linked with immortality and eternal life, perhaps because they shed their tail feathers in winter and renewed them in the spring. Symmetrically paired peacocks and inhabited vines were adapted by the early Christians for use in their churches and tombs.
Floor mosaics are often found in grand rooms that served as reception and banqueting halls. Mosaic floors were inspired by textile designs. Floral and geometric "carpet" mosaics became very popular in the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. The composition of an elaborate border surrounding a simple repeating pattern, such as scattered roses, was flexible and could be applied to rooms of all shapes and sizes.
Title: Roman Art - Floor mosaic, 5-6th century, AD.
Order No.: A1-1762.
Location: Antioch (Worcester Art Museum, MA).
Islamic Geometric Design and Architectural Details
Title: West Wall of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, late 8th century. Geometric composition of windows and Islamic Arches.
Order No.: A1-5955
Location: Cordoba, Spain
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Title: Early Islamic Horseshoe Arches, Medina Azzara, First Umayyad Caliph of Cordoba, 10th century.
Order No.: A1-6225
Location: near Cordoba, Spain
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Title: Geometric Decorative Tile, 14th century.
Order No.: A1-4918.
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Prohibited by religious strictures from creating representational art, Muslim artists relied heavily on abstract patterns. Geometry, in particular, provided craftsmen with a fertile source of designs.
In the tile mosaic shown here, the artist started with the 12-pointed star in the centre of the panel, which is about five inches in diameter and is made of white tile inlaid with on continuous, delicately carved piece of black tile; it is regarded at the finest example of inlaid ceramic art in the Alhambra. By extending patterns from the star, the artist was able to generate the rest of his design, and by a careful arrangement of straight lines, he created figures that give the brilliant illustration of star shapes, circles and curves. LEFT: Detail of a glazed ceramic geometric composition from the Alhambra, Granada, Spain |
Title: Iranian Wall Tile, 14th century.
RN: A1-3308.
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A Timurid tile panel (14th to 15th century) from Central Asia. The geometric composition has been skilfully designed, combining different sixfold patterns so that its design elements, such as the stars and hexagons, work together with the survey components in the tile panel.
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All images taken in museums (marked by "RN") are not for sale and are for educational purposes only
Architectural Wall Tiles
In the Middle East, tilework was originally developed as a decorative cladding for brick structures. By 1160, it was in use in Turkey, where tiles were later applied to stone buildings using mortar. The most accomplished type had colourful design painted on a brilliant white background. These were produced in the town of Iznik from about 1550.
Wall Tiles from Turkey - Iznik style
Title: Iznik Calligraphy.
RN: A1-0818.
Location: Peabody Museum, PA
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Title: Iznik Tiles, Fritware, underglaze. RN: A1-7093.
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Iznik Tiles, Ottoman..
Order No.: A1-0857.
Location: Rustem Pasa Cami, Istanbul
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Title: Iznik Tiles, Ottoman.
Order No.: A1-0839.
Location: Rustem Pasa Cami, Istanbul.
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Title Iznik Tiles, Rose and Floral motifs.
Order No.: A1-7108.
Location: Turkey
Title: Iznik Wall Tiles, Niche.
Order No.: A1-0821.
Location: Rustem Pasa Cemi, Istanbul.
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Title: Religious Iznik Tile. Depictions of sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina, 17th century.
RN: A1-7098.
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An illustrative book was produced for the exhibition on The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 25 January - 17 May 1987.
The reign of Sultan Suleyman 1 (1520-1566) marked the zenith of Ottoman political and economic power as well as the golden age of Turkish art and architecture. Suleyman was the tenth ruler of the house of Osman, the sultan who founded the Ottoman dynasty in northwestern Anatolia around 1300. Osman's descendants expanded into western Asia, eastern Europe, and northern Africa and established a powerful state. During his forty-six-year reign Suleyman double the territories of his realm, extending its boundaries from Iran to Austria. |
Book Cover: The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, 1987.
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Ottoman Calligraphy
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Title: Iznik Tile, Topkapi, 16th century.
Order No.: A1-0981
On the Tulip
The tulip is an exceptional flower that has accompanied the Turks during their migrations from Central Asia through to Anatolia, whence it has spread to Europe. This survivor adapts to every imaginable condition; it trives on arid rocky hillsides, mountains and meadows. Its distinctive, graceful lines make it perfectly suited to design and pattern creation, be it bud or full bloom. In the 16th century Ottoman art world, roses and tulips came to symbolize beauty and love. Wild tulips were domesticated into countless new cultivars, the vanguard of the tall and slender perfection that is the Ottoman 'Istanbul' tulip emerged, and names were conferred upon these new varieties.
The tulip is an exceptional flower that has accompanied the Turks during their migrations from Central Asia through to Anatolia, whence it has spread to Europe. This survivor adapts to every imaginable condition; it trives on arid rocky hillsides, mountains and meadows. Its distinctive, graceful lines make it perfectly suited to design and pattern creation, be it bud or full bloom. In the 16th century Ottoman art world, roses and tulips came to symbolize beauty and love. Wild tulips were domesticated into countless new cultivars, the vanguard of the tall and slender perfection that is the Ottoman 'Istanbul' tulip emerged, and names were conferred upon these new varieties.
Title: Iznik Wall Tiles, 16th century.
Order No.: A1-1012.
Location: Topkapi, Istanbul
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Title: Panel of Wall Tiles, Iznik, late period, 1660-70.
RN: A1-3828
Location: V&A Museum, London
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Title: Fountain Pavilion with Tiles, near the Hagia Sophia.
Order No.: A1-0666.
Location: Entrance to Topkapi, Istanbul.
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Persian - Iranian Tiles
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Persian Calligraphy
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Title: Persian Wall Tile, c 1910.
Order No.: A1-1055.
Location: Hearst Castle, CA
Title:Kashan tile, Persian, 14thC.
RN: A1-0817.
Location: Peabody Musuem.
Title: Tile Mosaic Panels, Late 1400, Isfahan, Safavid dynasty.
Order No.: RN-9888.
Location: Philadelphia Museum
Syria - Damascus Tiles
The Ottoman Empire extended into Syria, where its artistic expressions were adopted. Syrian potters could not achieve the brilliant red of Iznik, but their designs were often more robust.
Title: Damascus Tile,Early 18th century.
Order No.: A1-3082.
Location: Syria
Title: Frieze of 6 Damascus Tiles, Early 18th Century.
Order No.: A1-3023.
Location: Syria
Tunis - North Africa
Title: Tunisian Tiles, Late 19th century, Qallaline.
Order No.: RN-9886.
Location: Philadephia Musuem
Tiles of Spain
Title: Hispanic-Moorish Tile, Carpet design. 15th century. Seville.
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Title: The Leopard Hunt, Azulejo panel. Lisbon, 17th century. Polychrome faience tile.
Order No.: A1-5549.
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Title: Spanish Renaissance Tiles, 17th century, Seville.
Order No.: A1-4952.
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Title: Carpet style tile. Seville, 16th century.
Order No.: A1-5623.
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Tiles from Portugal
Allegorical Sea Figures, tile panel, 19th C.
Order No.: A1-3195.
Location: Portugal.
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Title: Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Bucaco, tile panel, 19th C.
Order No.: A1-3299.
Location: Portugal
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Title: Allegorical Sea Figure, Title Revetment.
Order No.: A1-3344.
Location: Bussaco Palace. Portugal
Title: Wall and staircase, c.1759. Portugal.
Order No.: A1-2000
Ceramics and Tiles from England
Title: Majorica Style Garden Pot on stand, glazed earthenware). Minton, England, c1880.
RN: A1-0839.
Location: Peabody Museum.
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Title: Majorica Style Garden Pot, glazed earthenware, c.1880, Minton, England.
RN.: A1-0831.
Location: Peabody Museum.
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All images taken in museums (marked by "RN") are not for sale and are for educational purposes only
Pair of Majolica Jardinieres (Garden Pots) on Stands, early 1870s-1883
Minton Ceramics Manfuactory (established 1796)
Designer: Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-87)
English (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Majolica, for which the English company of Minton was especially famous, appealed to Victorian taste with its bright colours, bold designs, and historical associations. Inspired by maiolica, tin-glazed earthenware of the Italian Renaissance, English majolica depended on a different manufacturing process that employed opaque coloured glazes and enamels. It was a practical material and was put to many uses in middle- and upper-class homes, sometimes as highly decorative containers for plants, like these impressive garden pots. As the popularity of majolica increased, Minton expanded their production into tablewares, figures, and ornaments, with prices to suit every budget.
Minton Ceramics Manfuactory (established 1796)
Designer: Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-87)
English (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Majolica, for which the English company of Minton was especially famous, appealed to Victorian taste with its bright colours, bold designs, and historical associations. Inspired by maiolica, tin-glazed earthenware of the Italian Renaissance, English majolica depended on a different manufacturing process that employed opaque coloured glazes and enamels. It was a practical material and was put to many uses in middle- and upper-class homes, sometimes as highly decorative containers for plants, like these impressive garden pots. As the popularity of majolica increased, Minton expanded their production into tablewares, figures, and ornaments, with prices to suit every budget.
Encaustic (meaning 'burnt in') Tiles
Three United Empire Loyalists Plaques, St. Alban's Loyalist Church, Adolphoustown, eastern Ontario. Minton encuastic tiles, England, c. mid-1900s.
Title: Encaustic Tiles with Fylfot.
Order No.: A1-3179.
Location: Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand.
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These photo were taken two days before the devastating 2011 earthquake which levelled Christchurch, New Zealand and destroyed the cathedral.
THE FYLFOT The Fylfot or swastika is an ancient symbol which has been found in the ruins of Troy, Egypt, China and India. In the Sanskrit language svastika came from svasti, meaning property, from the belief that the symbol brought good luck. The fylfot was a favourite symbol of the Victorians. These encaustic (meaning 'burnt in') tiles were imported from England and the wall of the cathedral construction in 1885. |
Title: Encaustic Tiles.
Order No.: A1-3188.
Location: Christchurch Cathedral.
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The New World
Canada
Title: Terracotta Water Fountain, c.1916.
Order No.: Aa1-1831.
Location: Brockville, Ontario
United States
Title: Morvarian Wall Tiles, c.1900
RN: A1-1638.
Location: William Mercer's Doylestown Museum
Spanish Tradition in the U.S.
Title: Spanish Tiles Facade, c. 1905.
Order No.: A1-0584.
Location: Columbia Restaurant, Tampa Cigar District, 2019
Title: Vase with fruit and flowers, Spanish, c.1905.
Order No.: A1-0594.
Location: Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, Florida, 2019.
Cuba
Title: Map of Havana, Cuba, 17th century.
Order No.: A1-1000.
Location: Havana