Basic info

Collection

Archaeology

Object name

Floor tile

Object category

Medieval

Description

Decorated, glazed. Described in Harvey Brook's unpublished catalogue as "The top left hand corner of an encaustic quarter pattern floor tile. The whole design when assembled covers almost the whole surface of the tile: an eight petalled flower occupies the corner outside the oval shaped narrow outer member of what appears to be a broad band enclosing a large oval centre panel of confused ornament which may be intended as the displayed wings of an eagle or other bird, the head and front of which appearsin the misdt of the intricacies of the design. The talons of the left foot are shown just under the wing, tense, ready to close and hold any challenger or prey. Owing to the impressionist character of mediaeval tile decoration and the lack of [?] to keep the design in one plane. a certain crudity results, which only observation can overcome and the meaning suddenly reveals itself; its all so easy when you know!"

Production date start

1066

Production date end

1540

Period

Medieval