Portuguese tiles, known in Portugal as azulejos, are glazed ceramic tiles, usually of tin-glazed earthenware, used to cover walls, façades, staircases, churches and gardens. They are one of the most distinctive elements of Portuguese architecture and decorative art, and are especially associated with blue and white painted designs.
Tile-making in Portugal developed from Hispano-Moresque traditions imported from Spain in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and later absorbed influences from Italian maiolica and Dutch delftware. Early tiles featured geometric and patterned designs, while the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw large figurative panels in blue and white depicting religious scenes, hunting, landscapes and episodes from history. After the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, tiles were produced in quantity for rebuilding, and in the nineteenth century industrial production brought patterned tiles to the façades of ordinary houses. Antique Portuguese tiles appear on the market singly, in sets and as complete panels. Collectors look for hand-painted decoration, an attractive glaze and good condition, while being aware that tiles removed from historic buildings may be subject to legal restrictions. They are used today in kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces and garden walls.
