![]() ![]() By the 14th Century zellige tiles were used as decorative coverings for tombs, baths, fountains, patios and almost every kind of architecture. The original zellige tiles were only made in white and brown, but eventually incorporated a wide variety of colours, as their use became a representation of wealth and status. Within muslim teachings, living creatures cannot be depicted in artwork, and so these early tile artisans expressed themselves through complex geometrical patterns where every colour, shape and pattern had symbolism and meaning – the zellige mosaic. Over time the area developed its own unique Moorish tile known as zellige. The area had been conquered by muslim people from Northwest Africa known as the Moors, around around AD711. It is believed that these first evolved as a local interpretation of decorative Greco-Roman mosaics. Zellige tiles first appeared sometime in the 10th Century, in Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Historically zellige tiles were used to create mosaics with elaborate geometric patterns, however contemporary zellige tiles also includes simple square and rectangular shapes. ![]() Zellige tiles are handmade glazed tiles with irregular surfaces that originated in Morocco. Zellige is an Arabic word meaning ‘little polished stone’. So, let’s explain why hand-made tiles from Morocco, in particular Tiles of Ezra tiles, being stocked in NZ, is cause for celebration. But for many people, the level of excitement has been a little perplexing. From the earliest social media posts in which we shared this news, there has been a tremendous groundswell of excitement. We actually thought that was such a terrific question it has inspired this blog.Īs many of you know we have become New Zealand’s exclusive supplier of Tiles of Ezra handmade Zellige tiles. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |