Skip to Content
Closed today, next open Thursday. Closed today, next open Thursday.

  • Mon 11–5
  • Tue–Wed Closed
  • Thu 11–8
  • Fri–Sun 11–5
  • The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

Square Tile

A work made of polychrome pigment applied over opaque white glaze.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of polychrome pigment applied over opaque white glaze.

Date:

Late 19th century

Artist:

Morocco

About this artwork

Geometric tilework comprised of individually cut pieces, or zillij, is a prominent feature of Moroccan architecture dating back more than 700 years. It is incredibly costly to make due to the skill involved in the design and layout of the mosaic. This imitation zillij tile achieves a similar effect while reducing the cost of labor and materials, and it speaks to the enduring importance of the zillij style as a highly prized art form in 19th-century Morocco. In an architectural context, numerous zilij tiles would have been arranged to create an elaborate network of interconnecting forms, such as those found in buildings like Madrasat al-Bu’naniyyah in Fez. The art of zillij is closely connected to a Moroccan sense of space; within public spaces and private homes, the use of zillij tiles could distinguish special rooms meant for important guests. Zillij continues to be a highly venerated art form in Morocco, where a community of dedicated artisans have carried on the traditional methods of the craft.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Asia

Culture

Islamic

Title

Square Tile

Place

Morocco (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1867–1899

Medium

Polychrome pigment applied over opaque white glaze

Dimensions

11.8 × 11.6 × 2.2 cm (4 5/8 × 4 9/16 × 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Samuel A. Marx

Reference Number

1925.765

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/16687/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.
Learn more

Image actions

Share

Suggested Terms