Physical description
Lead-glazed earthenware tile covered with a white slip, carved and incised with scenes from the apochryphal and gospel accounts of the childhood of Christ.
[Tile] Tile of red earthenware with decoration representing incidents from the apocryphal accounts of the infancy of Christ. Executed by scratching through and cutting away a white slip under a yellow clear glaze.
[Tile] Tile of red earthenware with decoration representing incidents from the apocryphal accounts of the infancy of Christ. Executed by scratching through and cutting away a white slip under a yellow clear glaze.
The tile is divided into two equal compartments. The subject on the left relates to the story of a boy who imitated Jesus in sliding down a sunbeam and fell. A group of three persons are seen remonstrating with Joseph. In the right hand compartment the boy Christ stands on the left with a book in his left hand and his right uplifted. Three boys kneel before him. Above the three boys is a horizontal branch with foliage.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1330 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Red earthenware covered with a white slip, incised and carved, and a clear lead glaze
Marks and inscriptions
[Tile] XXXVI 36
Dimensions
Length: 14 1/8 in taken from Register, Width: 7 7/8 in taken from Register
[Tile] Length: 35.9 cm
[Tile] Length: 35.9 cm
Object history note
(Registered File: MA/1/F1079 Foulkes, W.S. Mrs.)
(21 June 1927) Joan Evans to Rackham: Her [Mrs Foulkes'] husband purchased them when they were reflooring a Church in the Tring district and she has had them for many years.
(5 July 1927) Mrs. Foulkes to Rackham: The church they were taken from was built in the life of St. Hugh of Lincoln and the Church is in the style of York Minster which he also built; I believe - when the Chancel was restored probably abou the early sixties I think they were found under the flooring - I have had them since 1881.2- -
The British Museum analysed their tiles in 2007/8 by thermoluminescence dating and the results said that they were made between 500 and 800 years ago.
[Tile] Bought along with C.469-1927 from a woman in Exeter.
[Tile] Bought along with C.470-1927 from a woman in Exeter.
Historical context note
From the same set as eight tiles in the British Museum with subjects from the same source.
The technique used to make these tiles is not widespread. There is only one other recorded instance of a similar tile and that is in
Descriptive line
Lead-glazed earthenware tile fragment covered with a white slip, incised and carved with apocryphal and gospel scenes from the childhood of Christ. Said to have come from Tring Church, Hertfordshire. English, made about 1330.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 185177260X
M.R. James & R.L. Hobson, 'Rare medieval tiles and their story', Burlington Magazine, XLII (Jan. 1923)
W.B. Honey, English Pottery and Porcelain, London: Black, 1947
p.18
Alun Graves, Tiles and Tilework, V&A Publications, 2002
p.20 and figure 1.16
Mary F. Casey, 'The Fourteenth-Century Tring Tiles: A Fresh Look at their Origin and the Hebraic Aspects of the Child Jesus' Actions', Peregrinations: International Society for the Study of Pilgrimage Art, 2007
Labels and date
Wall tile with apocryphal scene from the childhood of Jesus Christ, probably English (found in Tring Church), about 1330 [2010 (TAB)]
Materials
Lead glaze; Slip; Red earthenware
Techniques
Glazing; Incising
Subjects depicted
Childhood of Jesus Christ
Categories
Ceramics; Tiles; Earthenware; Slipware
Collection code
CER
