Tile

Unknown Artist

probably 18th–19th century

Image not available — this artwork is under copyright

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Medium

Tin-glazed earthenware

Dimensions

Overall: 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

08.196.205

Art Historical Context

This charming 5 × 5-inch square tile, crafted from tin-glazed earthenware,ails from the Netherlands, likely dating to the 18th or 19th century. during the height of Dutch Delftware traditions, these tiles were a hallmark of everyday luxury, transforming ordinary interiors into vibrant displays. The tin glaze—a lead-based coating fired with tin oxide—created a smooth, impermeable white surface ideal for bold painted designs, often in blues, whites, and vivid polychrome hues. This technique, borrowed from Italian maiolica and perfected in Delft workshops, allowed for intricate motifs like flower...

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