Tile

MOA: University of British Columbia

3401/38

Square ceramic tile painted white with dark blue designs overtop. Surface is glazed, sides are partially glazed. Plain line border around all edges. Tile divided into four sections by a plain cross. Each section has an identical design. Diamond in centre of squares with a sunflower motif in their centres. The four corners of the four square sections have triangles with semi-circles and diagonal lines inside of them. Raised grid across entire back of tile. Manufacturer’s mark, Minton' Hollins & Co., stamped on back.

  • Cultural Context

    Wall tile. Minton, Hollins & Co.

  • Iconographic Meaning

    Sunflower design, a common flower motif of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which this tile stylistically draws from.

  • Specific Techniques

    Tile was manufactured by dust-pressing, a technique that uses clay milled to a fine powder with low moisture content, then pressed in a die at high pressure.


  • Type of Item tile
  • Culture English
  • Material clay, paint, glaze
  • Manufacturing Technique dust-pressed, printed
  • Measurements height 15.3 cm, width 15.3 cm, depth 1.1 cm (overall)

  • Creator Mintons
  • Previous Owner Judith Stoffman
  • Received from Judith Stoffman

  • Made in United Kingdom, Stoke-on-Trent

  • Creation Date between 1860 and 1900
  • Ownership Date before October 30, 2019
  • Acquisition Date on October 30, 2019

  • Item Classes ceramics
  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3401/0038