written by Paul Montgomery, Owner
Having just returned from Portugal before High Point Market, where I visited Lisbon’s National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo), I am excited to share some inspiration from my trip. Housed in a convent founded in 1509, the museum is a must-see when visiting Lisbon. Its collections, sourced from historic structures, line the corridors and rooms, offering a view into the life of the Portuguese empire, from the 15th century to the present.
These unmistakable blue and white (and other colors) tiles were originally influenced by the Arab tiles found in ancient buildings of Spain and Portugal, widely developed and used during the Moorish era, and have always been one of my favorite artistic inspirations. Imagine grand rooms with fully tiled walls, murals depicting historical events and cultural perspectives, and intricate borders, running designs, and geometric shapes. The tiles were also widely used on the exteriors of prominent houses, which left quite an impression and displayed the wealth of the owner. These charming buildings with artistic exterior tiles can still be seen throughout Lisbon today.
A similar tile effect was later developed in Delft, Holland, and used mostly in 18th- and 19th-century porcelains and tiles for decoration in English homes. We had the honor of creating a mural from Delft tiles held by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, called Cathy on the Thames (see Paul’s Picks in this issue). This mural emulates the Azulejo tiles I saw in Lisbon but with a distinctly Asian influence.
Now, we are imagining a mural inspired by the tiles I saw in Portugal that have a particular grace and flourish—perhaps a re-interpretation of the famous Views of Lisbon shown at the National Tile Museum, or a new design presenting a bucolic landscape of Portugal. Whatever the results, we’ll be happy to share that in a future post. Let’s hope there is time in our busy days to fulfill this dream.
