19th Century Spanish Tiles

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Spanish "Arista" Tiles
19th Century
Seville, Spain
500 available. Percentage discount offered based on number of tiles purchased.

“Arista Moulded … Read more Spanish "Arista" Tiles
19th Century
Seville, Spain
500 available. Percentage discount offered based on number of tiles purchased.

“Arista Moulded Tiles”

This style of tile was made by pressing clay against carven wooden or bronze moulds, inherited the Islamic love for geometry, but they also took on rich figurative compositions inspired by fabrics during the Gothic and Renaissance periods.

Arista first appeared in Spain ca. 1475 and swept Seville in the early 16th c, permitting production on an industrial scale. It permitted extensive tile use at home and export abroad - indeed arista has much to do with Seville’s enduring fame as a Spanish ceramic center. 

Walls were protected and decorated with them to form panels resembling vertical or horizontal carpets.

The conventional structure was transformed by tiles of different motifs, sizes and shapes, depending on their placement.

Each individual motif had an independent aesthetic value, which was enhanced when multiplied, forming extensive patterns of a size necessary to cover walls or ceilings. Numerous motifs shared the same space, turning variety into an added feature. See less