Henry Richards Tile Co. Ltd. - Circa 1905
"Abstract Art Nouveau Floral Design"
-- Antique * Poly-Chrome * Majolica -- Presenting an impressed, majolica, tile, featuring a flowing, abstract, floral design, in the Art Nouveau style, rendered in three natural shades of green glaze, created by the, "Henry Richards Tile Co., Ltd.," of England, circa 1905.
This tile reveals its design by allowing its glazes to fill its deliberate impressions, or indented areas, which then allows the glaze to form darker shades, which make the design visible.
One will note the dark Olive ground of the tile, surrounding the floral form, displays additional design impressions, (like the small row of tiny lines at the tile's top edge) giving it a "mottled" effect. But, all the tiles of this colorway and design display this identical mottling, as it is a deliberate part of this organic design.
Condition: Excellent
The tile presents well and its design is fully intact and without remarkable wear. The tile displays a tiny impact blemish at its lower left corner.(see tile scan). But, the dark spot on the lower right corner is from the factory and is covered in glaze.
The verso is almost pristine, free of mortar residue and dark smoke stains, and indicates this tile probably spent its long life as part of a tile backsplash for a long vanished piece of furniture. What discoloration the verso presents is probably the result of long contact with a wood backing and cleaning with water & vinegar over the last century.
The diagonal grip pattern is typical of Henry Richards tiles of this period. "England" is embossed. This design is from 1905 and was copyrighted by the manufacturer.
Please examine our provided high-resolution scans of this tile to determine its exact state.
* Tile Size: 6" x 6"
* Maker: Henry Richards Tile Co., Ltd.
* Style: Art Nouveau
* Type: Majolica
* Date: Circa 1905
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