{"product_id":"rare-medieval-heraldic-encaustic-floor-tile-royal-portrait-of-a-crowned-queen-14th-century-french","title":"Rare Medieval French Gothic Floor Tile Depicting a Crowned Queen, Artois, 14th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA rare medieval lead-glazed earthenware floor tile depicting the three-quarter bust of a crowned female figure, traditionally identified as a queen. The finely modelled portrait is enclosed within a lobed frame defined by double concentric lines, a distinctive feature of fourteenth-century tile production in Artois, northern France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe figure is particularly notable for the elaborate treatment of her costume and headdress. Her hair is gathered into a bun beneath a hairnet or tasselled coiffure, secured by a braided cord. She wears a fur-trimmed tunic fastened at the neck, a collar of lozenge-shaped jewels and a crown ornamented with a prominent central cabochon. These carefully observed details reflect the courtly fashions of the later fourteenth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe design closely corresponds to examples excavated at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHermelinghen (No. 183)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThérouanne (No. 304)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, where it is associated with a companion tile depicting a crowned male bust. The two designs originally formed part of a repeating decorative scheme celebrating royal or noble figures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJean Boucard has suggested that the distinctive coiffure corresponds to fashions of approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1365–1370\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, although the motif is more broadly attributable to the later fourteenth century. Related crowned female portraits are recorded from Saintonge and Bress-Allonnes, illustrating the circulation of Gothic decorative designs between northern and western France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unusually accomplished example of medieval French tile-making, distinguished by the expressive modelling of the portrait and the remarkably detailed representation of contemporary aristocratic dress.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ec14th century, Northern France.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12.3cm : \u003cem\u003eabout 1.8cm thick\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUK shipping included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition:  Chips and some loss of glaze. Hole to the surface, likely manufacturing flaw. Sticker\/glue remnants to the reverse. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiterature: \u003cstrong data-start=\"48\" data-end=\"86\"\u003eCarette, Martine \u0026amp; Derœux, Didier.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"87\" data-end=\"164\"\u003eCarreaux de pavement médiévaux de Flandre et d'Artois (XIIIe–XIVe siècles).\u003c\/em\u003e Arras: Commission départementale d'Histoire et d'Archéologie du Pas-de-Calais, 1985 p.72\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":65158831767929,"sku":null,"price":1600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0914\/3713\/8297\/files\/medieval-heraldic-encaustic-floor-tile-royal-portrait-hermelinghen-queen-14th-century-3.png?v=1794229570","url":"https:\/\/antiqueceramics.co.uk\/products\/rare-medieval-heraldic-encaustic-floor-tile-royal-portrait-of-a-crowned-queen-14th-century-french","provider":"Antique Ceramics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}