Tile thumbnail 1
Tile thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Tile

late 18th century-early 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A distinctive type of tile known as rajoles de oficis (tiles depicting trades) appeared in Catalonia in the 18th century. As their name suggests, these were primarily decorated with figures representing particular trades, but also sometimes with saints, mythological figures, animals and other figures and emblems. This example shows two men working at a bench. Typically featuring polychrome decoration with a distinctive yellow band around the edge, such tiles were enormously popular throughout the 18th and into the 19th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glaze earthenware, painted
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.2cm
Credit line
Given by Mr F. W. Mark
Object history
From a house in Palma de Mallorca.
Summary
A distinctive type of tile known as rajoles de oficis (tiles depicting trades) appeared in Catalonia in the 18th century. As their name suggests, these were primarily decorated with figures representing particular trades, but also sometimes with saints, mythological figures, animals and other figures and emblems. This example shows two men working at a bench. Typically featuring polychrome decoration with a distinctive yellow band around the edge, such tiles were enormously popular throughout the 18th and into the 19th century.
Bibliographic reference
Graves, Alun. Tiles and Tilework of Europe. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, fig. 4.28, p95.
Collection
Accession number
C.759-1920

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Record createdMarch 4, 2004
Record URL
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