Tile Item Number: 3401/20 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Square ceramic tile with floral motifs carved in relief across front. Surface is glazed. Dark brown leaves in tile corners with large dark yellow flowers along the edges. Large flowers take up entire edge, between the corners. Central design of a smaller dark yellow flower on a mint green background. White dotted lines extend from central flower. Four flowers, surrounded by vines and leaves, imprinted around central design. Raised grid across entire back of tile. Inscription on back.

Specific Techniques

Tile was manufactured by dust-pressing, a technique that uses clay milled to a fine powder with low moisture content, then pressed in a die at high pressure. The design was created from a relief in die, creating the raised edges and depressions. Glaze was hand-painted into the outlined areas and was allowed to pool in the embossing creating the shade variation.

Cultural Context

Wall tile.