This is a charming contemporary tile that I know absolutely nothing about. I am not even sure how this tile was made; the clay surface is really rough (intentionally so, I presume). The primitive outline of a donkey is incised into clay, and iridescent glazes that range from purple to teal cover its body. There is some incised writing in the lower right corner of the tile; it's either the artist's initials or the date, but I can't make it out. There are two additional clay elements on the frame, outside of the main tile; they are somehow attached to the frame. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Mammals
Donkey Tile
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Filed under Contemporary Tiles, Single Tiles, Unknown Maker
Hippo Tile Plaque by Bertil Vallien and Hal Fromhold
This most adorable hippo was made in the Los Angeles studio of a ceramic artist Hal Fromhold in 1961-1963. I am not quite clear on the details but it seems that Bertil Vallien, who later became a rather famous glass artist, began his career as a ceramicist. In 1961 he had a fellowship at Fromhold's studio and created a series of these whimsical plaques: hippo, horse & bird, horse & rider, lion. I've seen a few of these so far, and each one has a different color scheme. I don't think there were too many of them made. Continue reading
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Filed under Bertil Vallien, Hal Fromhold, Single Tiles
Horse and Rider Wall Tile
This is a new acquisition and by far the favorite modern tile in my collection. It's a hand-made wall plaque depicting a green horse and a blue rider under a bright moon (or is it sun?). The expressive design is full of details and is hand-carved into the tile. The background brown glaze is very glossy and shiny but the green on the horse is vellum, and so are some of the blues. It's quite large and has a rim that gives it more depth. The back of the tile is glazed with the same brown glossy glaze.
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Filed under Contemporary Tiles, Foreign Tiles, Single Tiles, Unknown Maker
Spanish Wrought Iron Table with Decorative Corners
This is a great 1920s table made with Spanish cuenca tiles. Tile-making was introduced to Spain by Moors some time in the 14th century and the tiles in this manner have been made throughout the centuries. Cuenca tiles were used extensively in the 16th century. A factory in Seville called Fábrica de Manuel Ramos Rejano made tiles that look similar between 1895 and 1965. Continue reading
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Filed under Foreign Tiles, Tile Tables, Unknown Maker
Carriage Wrought Iron Table by D. & M.
D. & M. Tile Company operated in Los Angeles from 1928 until 1939 and produced a number of designs that depicted horses - horse carriages, polo players, horse racers. This table shows a horse-drawn carriage made out of two tiles and set in a wrought iron frame. Continue reading
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Filed under D. & M. Tile Company, Tile Tables