Tile Mosaic Fragment, anonymous, c. 1300 - c. 1400

alicatado, h 24.5cm × w 20.5cm More details

The oldest wall decorations in Islamic Spain were mosaics made of variously shaped coloured tile pieces arranged in intricate geometric patterns. This was a time-consuming and therefore expensive technique. Only the very rich could afford such wall mosaics. The geometric pattern on this fragment is almost identical to a mosaic from the Alhambra in Granada. Perhaps it originally came from this palace, or was made in the same workshop.