Tile
About this object
Cultural context
Floor tile.
Specific techniques
Encaustic manufacture, an inlay technique, which consist of clay being pressed into a mold to form a relief. One or more colours of clay are then poured into the imprinted design and levelled. The bulk of the tile is composed of a courser clay that was inserted between the imprinted pattern on top and a similar finer clay on the bottom. After the clays dry, which can take up to three weeks, they are fired together. The holes on the back are for aerating.
Physical description
Square ceramic tile with curvilinear motif painted on front. Background is red-brown. Central design of a circle outline with a square in its centre. Sides of square curve inward. Circle and square done in beige with black lines running through their middles. Centre of square is red-brown and has four ovals, with pointed ends, forming a flower-like design in the middle. Ovals done in beige. Two beige ovals, with pointed ends, in each corner of the tile. Sides of tile undecorated. Twenty three holes, four rows of five and one row of three, indented on back of tile. Manufacturer’s mark, Maw & Co., stamped on back.
Date Made
C. 1850-c. 1900
Date Acquired
30 Oct 2019
How Acquired
Donated
Credit Line
Measurements
Overall: 15.3 cm x 15.3 cm x 2.2 cm
Object Number
3401/3