Tile 1879 - 1884

Editor: So, here we have a ceramic tile by J. and J.G. Low Art Tile Works, dating from around 1879 to 1884. The pale yellow relief design feels simultaneously delicate and rigidly geometric. How would you interpret this tile? Curator: Well, immediately I'm drawn to the material and process. Ceramic production was undergoing significant industrial changes during that period. This piece allows us to explore the tension between mechanized production and the Arts and Crafts movement's desire for hand-crafted objects. The repeating geometric pattern suggests a manufacturing process but also allows for individual imperfections. Editor: That’s interesting! So you’re thinking about how the means of production influence our understanding of craft versus art? Curator: Exactly. Think about the division of labor. Who designed this? Who prepared the clay? Who fired the kiln? This tile isn't just an aesthetic object, it is a material record of labor practices. Consider also where this tile might have been used – a fireplace surround, perhaps? Who would have purchased it? Editor: It probably wasn't a unique piece destined for a museum back then, was it? More likely mass-produced for homes, reflecting a specific taste of the era? Curator: Precisely. This seemingly simple tile brings up broader questions of accessibility and consumption within the Victorian decorative arts. We need to ask how it functioned as a commodity and how it contributed to shaping social and economic hierarchies. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way before. Looking at the materiality first, as evidence of larger systems, it really shifts my focus! Curator: Yes! The cracks in the glaze aren't imperfections, but tangible evidence of the making process and the passage of time. Thinking about art as material culture makes you want to touch, feel, and experience it beyond just visual appreciation. Editor: Absolutely. It definitely deepens my understanding to consider the labor, industrial context, and intended use alongside its visual aspects. Thanks for highlighting that!