Historic Tile: Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite, Arts & Crafts, Medieval: William Morris and De Morgan Decorative Tile
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If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of Art and the thing most to be longed for, I should answer, A beautiful House. ~William Morris
Art made by the people for the people, as a joy to the maker and the user... ~William Morris
First time here? How this Site is Organized
The featured tile changes once or twice a week.
There are substantial discounts on featured tiles on the days they are featured. See How to Order Tile.
These are the most recent tiles, in reverse order. I add new tile designs less frequently during tile season.
Strawberry Thief Backsplash and Border Tiles
Thistle (attributed to Dearle, but probably Kate Faulkner)
De Morgan Borders and Backsplashes
Ongoing additions to the bestiary:
Brought back Limited Edition murals to Tres Riches Heures Labors of the Months tile set (12 months, 6 tiles).
Victorian Medieval:
Monoceros Star Map backsplash. Beware of unicorns in the sky.
Botanicals: Ladies Flower Garden of Ornamental Annuals
Edward Burne-Jones, Doorkeeper
Art Nouveau Water Lily and Lotus
Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh 'Four Queens'
The galleries are visual gateways to tiles in the general area mentioned. Options such as size, color, and other variations are shown on the individual product pages.
William Morris Tiles from Textiles
Victorian Blue and White Tiles
De Morgan Tile Borders and Backsplashes
William Morris Red House and Early Tiles
Medieval Maps and Bestiary Tiles
Medieval Book of Hours and Herbals
Scottish, Glasgow Arts & Crafts, Jessie M. King, Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Fairy Tales and Victorian Nursery
Did we really need more De Morgan fish? It would be appear that we did. I began fishing last month, when a customer wanted to use the Persian Fish Frieze in a fireplace. People have mentioned that before, and at least one person used the fish on the hearth with blue surrounding tiles. But what about the fireplace side panels? To make that work, I made the Persian Fish Bowl fish border tiles, which can also work in a fireplace surround on the horizontal and vertical, which the Persian Fish Frieze cannot. So clearly more fish were needed!
And yet, I was not satisfied and needed more fish. Meet the Companion Fish. Does that sound oddly like geisha fish wearing kimonos and obis?
There are two families of the companion fish, and they are intentionally friendly. The first set (19 tiles) complement the Persian Fish Frieze, the second (13 tiles) the Persian Fish Bowls. All are true De Morgan fish but the overall design is not. They are available on the seamless Persian Fish Freize water background and several solid colors. Like the Fish Bowl Fish, these tiles are discounted if you are buying them as companion tiles.
But wait! There's more!
Art Nouveau Water Lily and Lotus
Water Lily and Lotus is a later De Morgan design, perhaps intended for a vase or plate. It is a "transitional" design, in that you can see De Morgan transition from his Arts & Crafts roots -- he is the Father of Arts & Crafts Ceramics, after all -- to the Art Nouveau style that took hold at the end of the nineteenth, first part of the twentieth century. The colors come clearly from his Persian color palette. If you find these water lilies still too ornate, I've added a few water lilies to the Companion Fish tiles.
Arts & Crafts Fish Bowl Panels
Art Nouveau Water Lilies and Lotus
Arts & Crafts Water Lilies (with fish)
It's tile season so I haven't made as much progress on these projects as I would have liked.
I'll also add a Thistle to California native wildflowers.
I've started work on nests, kitchen herbs, and possibly fish. Kitchen herbs are probably more important but I am enjoying the nests. Meanwhile, do see the Ladies' Flower Garden of Ornamental Annuals
If these seem like a good idea, encourage me.
Victorian tea room tiles.
Accent tiles to accompany the Monoceros Star Map backsplash.
Medieval Story Tiles
Baths (one new)
Kitchens (one new)
Fireplaces (two new)
Stairs and Accents (one new)
If I have your mailing address, I will send an occasional postcard featuring a tile with an interesting backstory. I intend that these will be pretty enough for bookmarks and not make their way immediately to a landfill.
You can get updates on featured tiles at William Morris Tile as well as on Twitter and Facebook.
Featured tiles are posted on this website, Facebook, Morris Tile on Twitter, and Pinterest. Featured tiles are discounted while they are featured.
I say to you that earth and heaven are not two but one; and this one is that which ye know,
and are each one of you a part of.... unless ye slay it. ~William Morris, A Dream of John Ball
first time here? (how this site is organized)
getting started (designing your tile project)
how to order tile (step-by-step)
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. ~William Morris
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