Tile thumbnail 1
Tile thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 144, The Headley Trust Gallery

Tile

1625-1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

During the 17th century tiles became widely used in Dutch homes to cover walls. The smooth tin-glazed surface was easy to clean and gave an opportunity to add colour and decoration to the walls. Animals became a particularly popular subject to be depicted on tiles. Over 100 different species have been recorded on seventeenth-century tiles, including many species from far away countries. Tile decorators often copied their designs form popular illustrated books.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue
Brief description
Tile, part of a tile panel, tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue, Netherlands, 1625-1650
Physical description
Tin-glazed wall tile with bevelled edges, painted in blue with a dromedary between baluster borders left and right and fleur-de-lis corner ornaments.
Dimensions
  • Width: 13.5cm
  • Height: 13.5cm
  • Thickness: 1.5cm
Credit line
Given by Mr Henry Van der Bergh through Art Fund
Object history
This tile entered the collection in 1923 as part of a mounted panel of 16 tiles of the same series. In 2009 twelve of these tiles (C.520:1-12) were remounted together with C.534:1-12 for display in the new Ceramics Galleries.
Subjects depicted
Summary
During the 17th century tiles became widely used in Dutch homes to cover walls. The smooth tin-glazed surface was easy to clean and gave an opportunity to add colour and decoration to the walls. Animals became a particularly popular subject to be depicted on tiles. Over 100 different species have been recorded on seventeenth-century tiles, including many species from far away countries. Tile decorators often copied their designs form popular illustrated books.
Bibliographic references
  • Dam, J. D. van, et. al. Dutch tiles in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia : Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1984, p.68 cat 54
  • Van der Bergh guide, cat 83
Collection
Accession number
C.520:3-1923

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest