Tile Item Number: 3401/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Square ceramic tile with geometric and floral motifs painted on front. Surface is glazed, sides are partially glazed. Background of tile painted black. Across front are three rows of dark brown circles, outlined in dark yellow. Inside of circles are stylized diamonds with flowers, done in dark yellow. Between the lines of circles are rows of the same stylized diamonds with flowers, but with fewer petals than the ones inside of the circles, done in dark yellow. Between each diamond is a dark yellow dot. Sides of tile undecorated. Five horizontal ridges on back of tile. Manufacturer’s mark, Maw & Co., stamped along ridges.

Specific Techniques

Tile was manufactured by dust-pressing, a technique that uses clay that is milled to a fine powder with low moisture content, which is then pressed in a die at high pressure. The design is inlaid, produced by pouring two slip clays into an imprinted design on the tile’s surface.

Iconographic Meaning

Design is an imitation of English medieval tile patterns.

Cultural Context

Floor tile.