Tile Item Number: 3401/38 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Square ceramic tile painted white with dark blue designs overtop. Surface is glazed, sides are partially glazed. Plain line border around all edges. Tile divided into four sections by a plain cross. Each section has an identical design. Diamond in centre of squares with a sunflower motif in their centres. The four corners of the four square sections have triangles with semi-circles and diagonal lines inside of them. Raised grid across entire back of tile. Manufacturer’s mark, Minton' Hollins & Co., stamped on back.

Cultural Context

Wall tile. Minton, Hollins & Co.

Iconographic Meaning

Sunflower design, a common flower motif of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which this tile stylistically draws from.

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.