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837 - Portuguese tile panel with geometric decoration from the 17t…
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Estimate €12,000 - €25,000
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Description
Portuguese tile panel with geometric decoration from the 17th century Restored Dimensions: 56cm x 56cm. Shortly afterwards, these plain white tiles were replaced by polychrome tiles (enxaquetado rico), which often formed a complex frame, as seen in the Igreja de Santa Maria de Marvila in Santarém, Portugal – a church boasting one of the most outstanding examples of interior tile decoration in Portugal. By replacing the diagonal tiles with a repeating pattern of horizontal polychrome tiles, a new design featuring different motifs could be created, interweaving Mannerist designs with depictions of roses and camellias (sometimes roses and garlands). An inserted votive tile usually depicts a scene from the life of Christ or a saint. These ‘carpet’ compositions (azulejo de tapete), as they were known, elaborately framed with friezes and borders, were produced in large numbers during the 17th century. The finest examples can be found in the Igreja do Salvador, Évora; the Igreja de S. Quintino, Obral de Monte Agraço; the Igreja de S. Vicente, Cuba (Portugal); and the chapel of the University of Coimbra. The use of azulejos to decorate antependia (altar fronts), imitating precious altar cloths, is typical of Portugal. The panel may be a single piece, or composed of two or three sections. They were used in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Some 17th-century antependia imitate oriental fabrics (calico, chintz). The gold fringes of the altar cloth were imitated by yellow motifs in the painted border tiles. Excellent examples can be found at the Hospital de Santa Marta in Lisbon, or at the Convent of Santa Maria de Almoster and the Convent of Santa Cruz do Buçaco. During the same period, another motif was introduced into the friezes: floral vases flanked by birds, dolphins or putti, known as ‘albarradas’. They were probably inspired by Flemish paintings of flower vases, such as those by Jan Brueghel the Elder. These were still displayed as freestanding pieces in the 17th century, but would later be used in repeating modules in ...
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About the sale GRAND JULY AUCTION | OLD MASTERS, HAUTE ÉPOQUE & FINE JEWELLERY
Auction location
Auction time 07/28/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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