Tiles. A bit of history Automatic translate

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

But do not forget that the tiles were used not only for the artistic cladding of stoves and fireplaces, but they were also quite successfully used to decorate both internal and external walls. The very first patterned ceramic plates appeared in the Ancient Mesopotamia (Euphrates River Valley). They were significantly different from modern representatives, as the "great-grandfathers" had a number of differences.

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

The old woman Europe had the honor to meet the tiles in the VIII century. So exclusively decorated palaces and temples, and the tiles themselves were considered a special luxury item. In the XVIII century, they began to be used in the decoration of interior spaces and hearths.

In Russia, the first painted stoves date back to the early 16th century. The peculiarity of Russian tiles is the red (terracotta) color, since watering was not yet known at that time. True, it is worth noting that after installation - the tiles, although not always, were whitened. The main relief pattern of that time was mythological animals (for example, the Sirin bird), stories from legends and epics, various battle paintings, and geometric ornaments or colorful floral designs were especially popular. Some copies already at that time were covered with transparent glaze without engobe and they acquired a brown tint.

In the 17th century, the flowering of tiled art was already truly beginning in Russia. By that time, glaziers and enamels were already at the disposal of the masters, and watering ants and valuable specimens were gaining popularity. It was in those days, from furnace decoration, they smoothly switched to the category of finishing materials for the walls of buildings. The patterns have become a little more diverse: images of fruits and trees with complex weaves have appeared.

It is believed that the first manufacturers of cenin (colored ceramics using enamel) were Belarusian craftsmen who lived on the Potter’s settlement in the capital. It was they who taught Russian artisans this art. Over time, valuable tiles have already begun to be manufactured in other cities (Totma, Veliky Ustyug, etc.). And in our time you can see a lot of churches decorated in this way, in particular in Yaroslavl.

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In the XVIII century, the mass production of decor begins, which, in the manner of the Dutch masters, has a white-blue or green-brown color. The beginning of such a production was laid by Peter I, by issuing an appropriate decree. Patterns and ornaments appear with floral motifs and bizarre images of “all kinds of figures” - both people and “animal and bird species”. Until 1725, transitional tiles, which were considered relief-painted, were common.

Beginning in 1890, manual manufacturing goes into machine production. At the same time, the famous workshop was opened in Abramtsevo, where such famous artists as Vasnetsovs, Serov, Golovin worked. In addition to painting, the craftsmen were pleased to manufacture tiles, which in style and execution resembled Old Russian ornaments.

Almost all samples of Old Russian decor have a rump (a special protrusion in the form of an open box, which is located behind the front plate), where holes are provided for fastening with wire to stove nails in the masonry.

Today, tiles, in most cases, are made of terracotta, earthenware or chamotte clay. You can find exclusive samples from high-quality porcelain, which are considered quite expensive material for decoration, but at the same time - unusually spectacular. The production process of such tiles is very complex, sometimes requiring four times firing. But how delightful stoves and fireplaces look with such decor are always relevant and luxurious classics.