The recurrent and ongoing lockdowns have been an oportunity for a little online shopping and more reading at home. Earlier in the year I had aquired a (1986 not 1856!) copy of 'the Grammar of Ornament' by Owen Jones. This is very much a resourse rather than a reading book, but assuming that Jones was being rigorous about his research it provides a useful reminder of characteristic styles. There is a seperate book, the Grammar of Chinese Ornament. For a good while now I have interested in tiles and other decorative architectural features. Because of their small size and potential for repetition, tiles provide an oportunity to explore pattern as showcased in Jones's book. While browsing offers at the V&A I noticed 'The Tile Book' published by Thames and Hudson and the V&A in 2019. Its a treasure trove! A mine of information it helped me to put some of my tourist snaps (see earlier blogs) and other reading into context. One disappointment was the dearth of information about more recent tiles in this 2019 book. There are only two examples after the 1980's, probably reflecting the book's origins in the Victoria and Albert Museum which of course as a museum tends to focus on historical objects . A 2018 abstract landscape tile panel from Egyptian artist Diaa el-Din Daoud is featured, but other decorative architectural ceramicists such as Lancastrian Maggie Berkowitz (d.2019) or Yorkshire based American ceramicist Jim Robison do not. Both produced/ are producing work on tiles which further develop the medium. The was no mention of even 'high end' commercial tiles such as those produced by Craig Bragdy in Denbeighshire, though these, by using bespoke tile shapes dictated by the design, are different again. The other more recent example in 'The Tile Book' are the 2014 tiles from the Chinese company, Recycled China, established by two Americans, Thomas Schmidt and Stephen Miller. The pieces featured, made with blue and white fired fragments (detail shown) and with terracotta, were both made with recycled aluminium. Recycling and sustainability are the future! A local (Preston) company, Alusid, was established in 2015 following research by Prof Dave Binns and Dr Alisdair Bremner. They use not less than 98% recycled ceramic elements (no aluminium, which can be recycled again into other products) and are fired at a lower temperature than standard ceramic tiles. Some of their products look very similar to those of Recycled China. whilst others look like more conventional wall tiles. Talking of tiles in my holiday snaps, perhaps this is the opportunity to post some pictures? All of these are from a 2013 trip to Istanbul; from the Hareem of the Topkapi Palace (built from 1459 onwards) and the Blue Mosque built in the first few years of the 17th century. They were most likely made in Iznik, (originally called Nicea) about 110km South East of Istanbul The following more recent tiles (late 17th C?) were photographed on an earlier trip to Lisbon. Tiles as status It good to see Rich Miller of Froyle Tiles as a judge on this latest series of 'The Pottery Throwdown', not merely appearing as the technician or as the hands doing that tricky business of deliberately collapsing a spinning pot. I am often very disparaging of 'flat' Fine Art especially when it is valued much more highly than ceramics, and I should not be. It should be judged on its merits. After all, tiles are - mostly - flat. Equally tiles seem to have acquired a lower status than other ceramics, when their range, artistry, skill and sheer beauty should again be judged on merit alone. Their very usefulness in providing a durable wipe clean decorative surface both in the home and in grander architectural schemes may have done them no favours. After all if a large number are needed to cover a surface each individual tile must be priced low enough to make them affordable. Of course in the days of mediaeval flooring and the Ottoman empire, wall and palace decoration tiles were status. Well what goes round comes round......
Victoria and Albert Museum. (2019) The Tile Book. Thames and Hudson. London
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AuthorI am indulging my passion for ceramics by undertaking studies for an MA at UCLAN Archives
August 2021
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