Tile

Art Historical Context

This charming earthenware tile, created by British artist John Sadler between 1757 and 1761, exemplifies an important innovation in 18th-century ceramics. Measuring just five inches square, it was produced using the transfer-printing technique, a groundbreaking method Sadler helped pioneer in Liverpool. This process allowed intricate designs to be printed from engraved plates onto pottery, making decorative tiles more affordable and widely available than traditional hand-painted versions. The tile’s presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing highlights the strong transatlantic exchan...