Glazed tiles were invented over a thousand years ago by the Muslims.
Their use was well suited to the climate of the Iberian Peninsula and by
the fifteenth century they had become an essential feature in wall decoration.
Glazed tiles were formerly mass-produced in Seville and Valencia,
where Portuguese traders regularly went to purchase them. Their manufacture
later spread to Portugal.
After the nineteenth century, with industrial-scale manufacture and
the use of standard and repetitive patterns, the glazed tile enjoyed renewed
popularity as a decorative element through its use in contemporary art.
Today, the glazed tile is once again seen as a unique visual medium
and a valid alternative to more traditional wall coverings.
As the maker of this glazed tile I have sought to lent continuity
to this millennium-old technique and contribute to its revival and relevance
to the present day.
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