Set of figure tiles, Manises, between 1750 and 1830

Beautiful and unusual set of six figure tiles made in Manises approximately between the mid-18th century and the 1830s. The three top tiles correspond to examples from the second half of the 18th century, characterised by subdues colors, very fine and loose contours and the intense green in the bushes, typical of this period. The next three, on the other hand, were painted during the first decades of the 19th century, using a more intense palette of colours, thicker brushstrokes and the olive green and yellow of this somewhat later period.

The figures depicted illustrate very well the great variety, originality and sometimes extravagance of the usual themes in Valencian tilework of the period: a man with a rope between his legs doing a folk dance, a hunter sleeping with his dog, an oriental character playing the horn or a character dressed as a Valencian, carrying a basket with food and a paella, are interesting examples of this.

The exceptional condition of these tiles should be emphasised: as they were originally designed for wall coverings in interior rooms, their subsequent removal, which is a very delicate process, almost always leads to breakages in the ceramic, and restoration and chipping are very common.

Dimensions: 20.5 x 20.5 each, 25 x 25 cm frame incl.
Condition: Excellent. One of them shows firing bubble marks on the glaze, covered in white.
Provenance: Private collection (Valencia), acquired in the 1980s.