Persian Tiles

Students will learn to make tiles using under-glaze and majolica techniques.

The lesson incorporates art history, multi-culture, aesthetics, and criticism

with hands on activity. The Lesson focuses on important

design elements and a variety of technical skills essential to tile making

History The creation of Persian Tiles began about

1200 A.D. After conquering Timer, the people of Persia

learned from the Chinese pottery that many colors could be added to one tile.

History

By 1500 A.D., the colors of Chinese pottery became a integral part of Persian tile-making and unique to the region.

Persian tile decorating reached its zenith in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tiles are used in two different ways for art. First the mosaic- a design created from gluing bits of

different colored tiles together. Second, in Persian, is called Ghlami- a technique where

several colors are painted onto one tile with a brush. You will be creating Persian Ghlami tiles using under-

glazes and or majolica technique.

Examples of Persian Tiles

Background Persian tile designs were not created by

the tile-maker, but rather by a design specialists. The tile-maker expanded the design to fit the working space- the wall, a floor, a roof.

The Designs were repeated over and over again. Each tile had its own part of the overall pattern.

The tile design like carpet design is both a craft and a industry that has evolved in Persia over the centuries.

Small specialties firms over all of Iran employ very talented artisans to design and make carpets, tiles, pottery, brass work, woodwork, and fabric. These are very complicated, very beautiful

art form, and the craft is studied and learned from one generation to another.

New Vocabulary:

Mojolica- a type of elaborately decorated pottery developed in the Middle Ages and refined in the Renaissance. White tin glazed earth-wear was painted and decorated with stains and oxides. We can have the same effects using safer materials today.

Persia- the former name for a country in the Middle East (Southwestern Asia) now called Iran.

Under-glaze- a special type of color that is put on a ceramic piece before the glaze. It has no flux (glass former) in it so it stays where it put when fired and is good for detail work.

Instructions: Making the under-glaze tile Step 1 Group or individual project.

(Group 8 or more tiles, Individual 4 or more tiles)

Step 2 Roll out (4 or 8) ½ inch thick 7” x 7” clay Squares. Make sure they are all the same size

and thickness. Step 3 Bisque Fire Tiles.

Instructions: Pattern Make your pattern, or

choose one of mine

Using your unglazed bisque tiles, transfer or trace the design onto the tiles with the carbon method.

Instructions: Under-glaze Tiles Use the black Velvet under-glaze

and other colors to paint the outline of the carbon tracing.

Select colors to reflect the design or effect you wish to achieve.

Fill in each area of the design, each color, using three coats of under-glaze or velvets for complete coverage.

Go over the outline again to make sure that all the lines are precise thickness.

Check all the colors for complete and solid coverage.

Instructions: Under-glaze Tiles When the tile is complete and

the under-glazes are dry, apply at least two coats of clear glaze. Wait for each coat to dry before

applying the next coat. Tiles are fired to cone 04

(1400*F)

Instructions: Majolica Tiles Choose a pattern or design

your own. Apply four coats of opaque

white glaze to the tile. Be sure each coat is dry before

the next coat is painted. When the glaze is completely

dry, carefully trace design onto tile using the carbon transfer method.

Instructions: Majolica Tiles Use AMACO black from the

majolica gloss decorating color series (GDC) to outline the design. This is applied over the unfired white glaze.

Basic background colors using Majolica Gloss Decorating Colors are applied with three coats.

Tile is fired to cone 04 for four hours creating rich colors with a glossy surface texture.

Student Persian Tile Examples