Tile
Unknown Artist
1640–60
Medium
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
5 × 5 in. (12.7 × 12.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of W. R. Valentiner, 1908
Accession Number
08.196.59
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming 5 × 5-inch square tile, crafted in tin-glazed earthenware around 1640–60, hails from the Dutch Golden Age, a period of remarkable prosperity artistic innovation in the Netherlands. Produced by an unknown artisan, it exemplifies the Delft tiles that adorned the interiors of Dutch homes, fireplaces, public buildings, serving both decorative and protective functions against damp walls. The tin glaze—a lead-based coating fired over the earthenware—created a smooth, white surface ideal for vibrant painted designs, which here feature mermaids and horses, blending mythical allure with e...