Pair of Italian Hand-Painted Majolica Glazed Terracotta Portrait Tiles

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A striking pair of hand-painted Italian terracotta tiles, richly decorated in the maiolica (majolica) tradition. Each rectangular tile features a … Read more A striking pair of hand-painted Italian terracotta tiles, richly decorated in the maiolica (majolica) tradition. Each rectangular tile features a bust-length portrait rendered in vivid glaze—one of a bearded man in a turban-like hat, the other of a woman in a headscarf gesturing expressively. The figures are framed by architectural cartouches and scrolling foliate motifs in cobalt blue, ochre, and emerald green against a deep navy ground.
These tiles reflect the influence of Renaissance portraiture, with stylized facial features and traditional Italian costume, evoking the aesthetic of 15th–16th century maiolica from regions such as Deruta or Faenza. The reverse is backed in wood with a wire for hanging, ready to display as wall art.

Date:
Likely mid-20th century (circa 1950s–1970s), in the style of Renaissance revival Italian ceramics. See less