Tile history

Our land is heir to Muslim art in many aspects, and also in the tile tradition. In fact, artisan tile is one of the main hallmarks of our art and our architecture .

The decoration with tiles has its origins in Mesopotamia and Egypt , peoples that already used glazed bricks. This technique was perfected with the arrival of the Muslims, who created new techniques, being the Nasrid stage in which the tile reached its maximum splendor (13th and 15th centuries).

In fact, during this period impressive architectural works were carried out in which the decorative base was the artisan tile , such as the Alhambra in Granada, which houses authentic works of art in the form of tile. During the time Malaga was the nerve center for the production of ceramics, whose golden earthenware was very famous throughout the world.

Already in the 11th century, the arrival and settlement of Christians in the north of the Peninsula favored them to move towards Al Andalus, which caused the techniques of the Muslims to spread throughout the Peninsula. Thus was born the ceramic and Mudejar tiles . In this, the tiling was very important, especially in places where the Islamic presence had been intense (Seville and Córdoba). In these places are the most important tile sets of Mudejar art.

An example of this art made tile is in the Reales Alcázares of Seville , which houses tiled baseboards with a geometric design reminiscent of those of the Alhambra.

After conquering Granada, an aesthetic that identifies with Christianity is implanted, merging Gothic, Mudejar and Renaissance art. They begin to make tiles with the dry rope technique, drawn with a brush and colored. An example of these is in the Casa de Pilatos in Seville or in the Pabellón de Carlos V in the Alcázar.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, many merchants and artisans arrived in Seville, capital of the world, to find a place in the city. One of them would be the one who would revolutionize Andalusian tile as it was known, Francisco Niculoso Pisano , an Italian potter who would settle in Triana and who introduced the technique of painted tile, unprecedented until then.

This technique not only gave the artist great freedom, but also introduced Italian Renaissance motifs. After the artist's death, the Sevillian workshops adopted this technique again and exported the tile throughout Europe . Some examples are in the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville or in the Church of Santa Ana.

In 1609, the Moors were expelled from the country, and this caused the Andalusian ceramic workshops to suffer the departure of their artisans and the Church became their largest customer, increasing the production of ceramic altarpieces, influenced by the Sevillian pictorial school.

Centuries later, at the beginning of the 19th century, the workshops again suffered the crisis due to the war with France and the loss of the American colonies. There is a recovery with the opening of the factory of the British Charles Pickman.

You can also have authentic artisan tiles in your home to decorate each room. Take a look at our collection!