Panel of tiles thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Stair G

Panel of tiles

Tile Panel
1883
Place of origin
Tunisia

"Tile pictures" were made in Tunisia between the eighteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Their usual function was to decorate and bring good luck to houses, tombs, mosques, and even synagogues. The motifs of the flowering vase and tree flanked by lions are traditional, although the style has become decidedly Europeanised.

The Arabic inscription at the top reads "Made at Qallalin [the potters' quarter] in the city of Tunis for display at the public exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883." The Museum purchased the tile at that exhibition.


Object details

Category
Africa
Object type
Tile panel
Parts
This object consists of 99 parts.

  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
TitlePanel of tiles
Materials and techniques
earthenware and glaze
Earthenware
Brief description
Panel of 100 earthenware tiles, painted in colours in an opaque glaze, Tunisia (Qallaline), made for display at the exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883.
Physical description
Earthenware with coloured opaque glaze
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Made at Qallalin [the potters' quarter] in the city of Tunis for display at the public exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883. (Arabic; Arabic)
Gallery label
"Tile pictures" were made in Tunisia between the eighteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Their usual function was to decorate and bring good luck to houses, tombs, mosques, and even synagogues. The motifs of the flowering vase and tree flanked by lions are traditional, although the style has become decidedly Europeanised. The Arabic inscription at the top reads "Made at Qallalin [the potters' quarter] in the city of Tunis for display at the public exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883." The Museum purchased the tile at that exhibition.(12/03)
Object history
Made for the International Colonial and Export Trade Exhibition, Amsterdam, 1883.
Production
Reason For Production: Exhibition
Subjects depicted
Lions (Animals)
Tree
Summary
"Tile pictures" were made in Tunisia between the eighteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Their usual function was to decorate and bring good luck to houses, tombs, mosques, and even synagogues. The motifs of the flowering vase and tree flanked by lions are traditional, although the style has become decidedly Europeanised.

The Arabic inscription at the top reads "Made at Qallalin [the potters' quarter] in the city of Tunis for display at the public exhibition in Amsterdam in 1883." The Museum purchased the tile at that exhibition.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
1283-1883

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 createdAugust 7, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83282/panel-of-tiles-tile-panel/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest