The Alhambra, art made tile

When we think of the Alhambra , we think of History and the artisan tile has a very important place in that History, which thanks to the ornamentation and decoration models used by the Muslims, today is the greatest exponent of Nasrid art .

Tile, key in the decoration of the Alhambra in Granada

While it is true that Islamic buildings used to be smooth on the outside, the interior of the Alhambra houses a decorative tile treasure that is second to none .

The ceramic tiling is an impressive example of the importance of this material.

This decorative technique has its origin in Muslim artists, and with it it was tried to imitate the mosaics of the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines. Basically, it consists of cutting ceramic pieces of a single color using different tools to get pieces of different sizes and shapes. Once you have them, they are joined as if they were a puzzle next to each other, of course, following a design that has been made previously.

The origin of this type of decoration is not known for sure, but it is known that in the 10th century it was already being used in the north of the African continent. Later, a couple of centuries later, it reached the territories of the Peninsula thanks to the Berber tribes. However, it was not that town, but the Nasrid, who took it to its peak in the Alhambra .

The artisans used different pigments that they made with mineral materials. They mixed them and baked them in the oven, and then crushed them to make a powder. The tiles were subsequently bathed in this powder.

Tiles in all rooms of the Palace

It doesn't matter where you are in the Palace. You will see tiles and ceramic cloths wherever you look.

Design based on ties, natural motifs and a great decorative profusion is what characterizes this style of decoration.

At Artesanía Sevilla we are good connoisseurs of all the techniques used to create quality painted tiles. Know us!