Tile thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Tile

ca. 1471-1482 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Pesaro (made)

This tile is from a pavement commissioned by Maria De Benedetti, abbess of the Convento di San Paolo in Parma, between 1471 and 1482. The convent's large square tiles were boldly painted with figures and profile portraits of men and women in contemporary dress, as well as animals and mythological subjects. The pavement was probably laid in a chapel in the gardens of the convent, though by the early 19th century the tiles had been moved from their original location.

Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Tiles
Object type
Tile
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours
Earthenware
Tin Glaze
Painted
Glazed
Brief description
Floor tile, tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours, probably Pesaro, Italy, ca. 1471-82
Dimensions
  • Width: 21cm
  • Height: 21cm
  • Thickness: 2cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Sia data in m de zovano...' (Inscribed in blue)
Translation
'To be given into the hand of John'
Object history
From a pavement commissioned by Maria De Benedetti for the Convento di San Paolo in Parma.
Subject depicted
Busts
Summary
This tile is from a pavement commissioned by Maria De Benedetti, abbess of the Convento di San Paolo in Parma, between 1471 and 1482. The convent's large square tiles were boldly painted with figures and profile portraits of men and women in contemporary dress, as well as animals and mythological subjects. The pavement was probably laid in a chapel in the gardens of the convent, though by the early 19th century the tiles had been moved from their original location.
Bibliographic references
  • Graves, Alun. Tiles and Tilework of Europe. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, fig 3.4, pp47 & 49.
  • Liefkes, Reino and Hilary Young (eds.) Masterpieces of World Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publishing, 2008 pp.60-61, ill.
Other number
191 - Rackham (1940)
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
12-1890

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O88711/tile-unknown/
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