• Style/technique: Floral impasto barbotine
• Manufacturer: Burmantofts
• Dimensions: 6" x 12"
• Date: circa 1895

A rare pair of large barbotine tiles entirely handmade from plastic clay from the notable Burmantofts Co aka Leeds Fireclay. Individually painted in slips without the use of an outline as witnessed by the individuality of the tiles of the pair, rare because they are painted using the impasto* technique whereby the medium was applied thickly and modelled to provide relief. The painted slip has been built up in such a way as to give shape and relief modelling to the edges and tips of leaves and petals. We offer these as individual tiles as that's how most collectors prefer to buy their tiles however they would make a particularly interesting pair.

Versos combed and with Burmantofts impressed mark.

*Impasto is often incorrectly used in connection with tiles often in reference to stencilled slip designs where the slip stands a little proud from the tile surface but is not modelled or sculpted. Perhaps more applicable in general terms to barbotine but still not correct in most cases as the word barbotine describes the process precisely and any impasto effect is because of the process not because of the intent of the artist. These are deliberately impasto, the medium (coloured slip) built up to a considerable depth on parts of the design particularly the tips of some of the petals.

From wikipedia:

Impasto is a technique used in painting where paint is laid on an area of the surface (or the entire canvas) very thickly, usually thickly enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint can also be mixed right on the canvas. When dry, impasto provides texture, the paint coming out of the canvas.

Impastoed paint serves several purposes. Firstly, it makes the light reflect in a particular way, giving the artist additional control over the play of light on the painting. Secondly, it can add expressiveness to the painting, the viewer being able to notice the strength and speed applied by the artist. Third, impasto can push a painting into a three dimensional sculptural rendering.

Condition: Good
Price: £140 (approx $280)
Ref: 02272

Chip top right corner and about a dozen glaze flakes around the edges. A little rubbing near the corners and other very minor surface marks - bright points on the leaves are reflections due to the high relief. Most marks are on the background. the focus of the tile, the flowers and leaves, are virtually free of marks and are very brilliantly glazed.

Condition: Excellent
Price: £185 (approx $370)
Ref: 02273

Two shallow chips to the left edge, glaze flakes top left and bottom right corners and a few tiny ones around the edges. A little very slight rubbing near top left corner and other extremely minor surface marks - bright points on the leaves are reflections due to the high relief. The flowers and leaves are virtually free of marks and are very brilliantly glazed.

The image is full size at 72 dpi (about 430 pixels wide) in maximum quality JPEG format. A larger 120 dpi image also in maximum quality JPEG format can be forwarded by email if required.

The image is a little oversize rather than cropped close to the edges so that the edges can easily be seen and any chips etc can be quickly spotted. Other marks described are usually not visible at all when the tile is viewed straight as one normally sees it and can only be seen with a critical eye when the tile is tilted to catch imperfections in reflected light. For more details of how we describe marks see Condition.