Object Description
A very rare encaustic tile panel by Minton & Co. depicting the mythical winged horse Pegasus, mounted in a bespoke metal stand for display.
Dating to around 1845, this Pugin style tile panel was commissioned in 1840-42 by L. N. Cottingham for Temple Church, London and possibly removed following WWII bomb damage. Tiles identical to these can still be found decorating the floors of the Church to this very day.
Comprising of four 6-inch tiles, this panel is just a selection of various encaustic tiles we are selling by Minton & Co.
Temple Church, London
It was not until 1850 that Minton and Co. began stamping the reverse of their tiles. Though unstamped, there is a similar tile to these in the British Museum attributed to some of Minton’s earliest works:
“Minton & Co.’s first major commission was for the restoration of the Temple Church in 1840-42… The earliest Minton tiles are two-colour inlaid tiles characterised by random stabmarks (a device which aids drying found on the reverse) together with the yellow glaze covering the inlaid white of buff areas.”
As is the nature of encaustic tiles, both the red background and yellow figure form the body of the tile, unlike other tiles where the design is painted onto clay. This may be why this tile panel has such excellent definition after more than 180 years, the figure of Pegasus vibrant against the red with minimal surface wear. An excellent collector’s piece!
Additional Information
Tiles: 6-inches square, 1 inch deep
Mounted on a custom-made steel stand with base diameter: 20cm