Tile Item Number: 3401/3 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
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.
Iconographic Meaning
Design is an imitation of English medieval tile patterns.
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.
Cultural Context
Floor tile.
Item History
- Made by Maw & Co. (Manufacturer) in United Kingdom and Broseley, Shropshire, England between 1850 and 1900
- Owned by Judith Stoffman before October 30, 2019
- Received from Judith Stoffman (Donor) on October 30, 2019
What
Who
- Culture
- English
- Creator
- Maw & Co. (Manufacturer)
- Previous Owner
- Judith Stoffman
- Received from
- Judith Stoffman (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- United Kingdom and Broseley, Shropshire, England
When
- Creation Date
- between 1850 and 1900
- Ownership Date
- before October 30, 2019
- Acquisition Date
- on October 30, 2019
Other
- Item Classes
- ceramics
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 3401/0003