Tile Stories – Italian Maiolica Style

Maiolica hand-painted tile by Broadmoor Pottery, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1933-1939.
Maiolica refers most often to Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colors on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.
Though the designs and techniques were applied primarily to earthenware plates, bowls and vases, the style also made it’s way into ceramic wall and floor tiles, as evidenced by these images.

“Terra Nova” tile by Tierra y Fuego on Etsy

Maiolica in the portal of a St. Petersburg mosque.



You have used whitewash parkwood in a few of your latest designs, what do you like about that particular tile from Everitt & Schilling.

Zellige is the name give to the colorful style of enamel-covered terra cotta tile that originated in northern Africa and migrated to Spain in the 8th century. The art form arose from the need of Islamic artists to create spatial decorations that avoided depictions of living things, consistent with religious teachings. Today Moroccan or Moorish tile usually plays an accent role in Western design, where it brings romance and visual interest to monotone interiors.
