Tiles. A bit of history

Tiles are a very common decorative element in pre-revolutionary Russia. The tradition of making tiles has not been forgotten to this day - they decorate our homes as an unusual element. They create a special atmosphere in the house and evoke associations with the life of Russian people in ancient times, which we know about from books and illustrations of that time.

But we should not forget that tiles were used not only for the artistic facing of stoves and fireplaces, but also quite successfully used to decorate both interior and exterior walls. The very first patterned ceramic plates appeared in the ancient Middle Ages (Euphrates River Valley). They differed considerably from the modern representatives, as “great-grandfathers” had a number of differences.

In the Maghreb (Algeria and Tunisia), mosaic tiles were particularly popular, and were used to decorate mosques and palaces. Most scholars agree that it is from the Moorish culture, this method of wall lining was safely adopted by the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. In modern Portugal there are still tiled facades of churches of XV-XII centuries, the appearance of which resembles large paintings in white and blue colors.

Old Europe had the honor to get acquainted with tiles in the VIII century. So decorated only palaces and temples, and the tiles themselves were considered an object of special luxury. In the 18th century they were used in the decoration of interior rooms and hearths.

In Russia, the appearance of the first painted stoves dates back to the early 16th century. The peculiarity of Russian tiles is the red (terracotta) color, as watering was not known at that time. True, it is worth noting that after installation - tiles, although not always, but whitewashed. The main relief pattern of that time is mythological animals (for example - the bird Sirin), plots from tales and bylinas, various battle paintings, and especially popular were geometric ornaments, or colorful vegetable. Some pieces were already covered with transparent glaze without engobe and they acquired a brown color.

In the XVII century in Russia already really begins to blossom tile art. By that time the masters already had glaze and enamels at their disposal, watered muravelenye and cheninnye specimens were gaining popularity. It was in those days, from the furnace decoration, they smoothly passed into the category of finishing materials for the walls of buildings. The patterns became a little more varied: images of fruits and trees with complex weaves appeared.

It is generally believed that the first makers of chenina (colored ceramics with enamel) were Belarusian craftsmen who lived in the Pottery Sloboda in the capital. It was they who taught Russian artisans this art. With the passage of time, valuable tiles began to be made in other cities (Totma, Veliky Ustyug, etc.). And nowadays you can see a lot of churches decorated in this way, in particular - in Yaroslavl.

We cannot refrain from recommending electromagnetic scale converter “AkvaShchit”, in which a combination of modern technology and the best materials easily cope with the task of water softening and descaling.

In the XVIII century begins mass production of decor, which, in the manner of the Dutch masters, has white-blue or green-brown coloring. The beginning of such production was laid by Peter the Great, who issued the corresponding decree. Patterns and ornaments with plant motifs and fanciful images “of all kinds of figures” - both people and “animal and bird species”. Transitional tiles, which were considered relief-painted, were common until 1725.

Beginning in 1890, handmaking transitioned to machine production. At the same time the famous workshop in Abramtsevo opened, where such famous artists as the Vasnetsovs, Serov, and Golovin worked. In addition to painting, the masters enjoyed making tiles, which in style and execution resembled Old Russian ornaments.

Almost all examples of Old Russian decoration have a rumpa (a special protrusion in the form of an open box, which is located at the back of the face plate), where holes are provided for fastening by means of wire to the kiln nails located in the masonry.

Today, tiles are mostly made of terracotta, earthenware or fireclay. It is possible to meet exclusive samples of high quality porcelain, which are considered quite expensive material for finishing, but - unusually spectacular. The process of production of such tiles is very complex, requiring sometimes fourfold firing. But how delightful look stoves and fireplaces with such decor - always relevant and luxurious classics.