Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 144, The Headley Trust Gallery

Section of a Tile Pavement

ca. 1470 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This section of tiled paving comes from the Mazzatosta chapel of the church of Santa Maria della Verità in Viterbo, Italy. Laid in about 1470, it provides an early example of an Italian Renaissance tiled floor. Similar decoration can be found on Italian tin-glazed earthenware pottery, called maiolica,of the period.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware, painted
Brief description
Panel of tiles, buff earthenware painted in dark blue, manganese-purple, deep yellow and green on a tin-glazed ground. Originally from the church of Santa Maria della Verita, Viterbo. Italy, c.1470. This section composed of 28 of the original 42 tiles.
Physical description
A panel of 28 tiles decorated with Gothic peacock-feather and foliage designs, and a single square tile with a spotted snake.
DimensionsThe all panel is 90.5 x 49 cm
Style
Object history
From the Cappella Mazzatosta of the church of Santa Maria della Verità, Viterbo.
Historical context
The Mazzatosta Chapel was founded by Nardo Mazzatosta, member of a wealthy noble family of Viterbo.
Production
Made in Central Italy, probably Umbria or Lazio
Summary
This section of tiled paving comes from the Mazzatosta chapel of the church of Santa Maria della Verità in Viterbo, Italy. Laid in about 1470, it provides an early example of an Italian Renaissance tiled floor. Similar decoration can be found on Italian tin-glazed earthenware pottery, called maiolica,of the period.
Bibliographic references
  • Graves, Alun. Tiles and Tilework of Europe. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, fig 3.3, pp46-49.
  • Rackham, Bernard. Catalogue of Italian Maiolica, London : H.M.S.O., 1977
Other number
188 - Rackham (1940)
Collection
Accession number
229-1902

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Record createdJune 4, 2015
Record URL
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