Not on display

Tile

late 13th to early 14th century (made)
Place of origin
Wiltshire (made)

The tile is triangular. The decoration is inlaid in white slip and is as follows: 3 semi-circles in the centre of the triangle, enclosing foliage growing downwards from a semi-circular branch. In the corners of the triangle are stylised leaves. Only patches of glaze remain.

Object details

Object type
Tile
Materials and techniques
red earthenware, white slip, stamped, inlaid
Brief description
Red earthenware stamped with a design of three semi-circles in the centre of a triangle, enclosing foliage growing downwards from a semi-circular branch and inlaid with white slip; traces of lead glaze. Probably made at Naish Hill, near Stanley Abbey, Wiltshire and originally in Malmesbury Abbey. England, late 13th or early 14th century
Physical description
The tile is triangular. The decoration is inlaid in white slip and is as follows: 3 semi-circles in the centre of the triangle, enclosing foliage growing downwards from a semi-circular branch. In the corners of the triangle are stylised leaves. Only patches of glaze remain.
Dimensions
  • Length: 11 1/2in (Note: Taken from Register)
  • Width: 5 3/4in (Note: Taken from Register)
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
.
Object history
Given by Antony Dufort, 41 Tunstall Road, London SW9 who purchased it from Jonathan Horne, antiques dealer
This tile, and C.181-1980, were excavated from the site of Malmesbury Abbey. Similar tiles are known from Stanley Abbey, near Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Bibliographic references
  • McCarthy, M., 'The Naish Hill Kilns. Interim Report', Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, vol. LXVI (1971)
  • Brakspear, Harold, 'Stanley Abbey', Archaeologia, LX, pp.493-516
  • Eames, Elizabeth, Catalogue of Medieval Lead Glazed Earthenware Tiles in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities in the British Museum, 1980, p.19
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.182-1980

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O276488/tile/
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