A TUNISIAN IZNIK-STYLE POTTERY TILE
Tunisia, North Africa, mid-18th century

Of square shape, underglaze painted in turquoise, cobalt blue and manganese purple with black outlines on white, the decoration consisting of rosettes and stylised lotus flowers interconnected by scrolling green vines and serrated saz leaves, 15cm x 15cm.

It is worthy to note that this style of pottery tile was mostly used to decorate the walls of houses not only in Tunisia but also in other Mediterranean countries, like Egypt and Southern Italy. In fact, the entrance to the renowned Casa Rossa in Anacapri, on the famous Italian island of Capri, presents an entire frieze of this exact style of tile, exemplifying the frequent commercial exchanges between North Africa and Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.