Tile
Unknown Artist
1610–25
Medium
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
Overall (tile): 5 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (13.3 × 13.3 cm); Overall (whole panel): 26 3/4 × 21 1/4 in. (67.9 × 54 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
08.196.148
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite tin-glazed earthenware tile dating from 1610–25, hails from the Dutch Golden Age, a period of remarkable prosperity and artistic innovation in the Netherlands. Produced during the height of Delft pottery production—often called Delftware—these square tiles (5¼ × 5¼ inches) were typically assembled into larger panels, as seen here in a 26¾ × 21¼-inch. Adorned with vibrant floral motifs, it exemplifies the era's love for naturalistic decoration, bringing the beauty of blooming gardens indoors. The tin-glazing technique, borrowed from Italian maiolica and perfected in Dutch worksh...