Azulejo

Under azulejos ( Portuguese pronunciation [ ɐzu'ɫeʒʊ ], Castilian pronunciation [ aθu'lexo ] ) refers to a mosaic of mostly square, brightly painted and glasifizierten ceramic tiles, which has its European origins in Spain and Portugal, and is produced there. This weather-resistant tiles are available in these countries an integral part of the townscape and are joined at public monuments and buildings, facades and churches, but also on internal walls to often artistic murals. Often, old flowers, birds and marine motifs are processed. In wall coverings Azulejos there is traditionally re oriental ornamentation.

History

The name azulejos derives from the Arabic al zulaij, which means " small polished stone ". The glaze techniques originate from the Persian area. In the Iberian Peninsula, they are a legacy of the Moors who occupied large parts of the Middle Ages. The technique of production was taken over by local craftsmen and developed. Manufacturing center in the 12th and 13th century Andalusia, there especially Granada. In the 14th century Valencia was famous for its azulejos. Today Portugal 's main producer. Old tiles can be recognized by three fingernail-sized flaking of the glaze, which are due to the cutting off of small ceramic three feet, the tiles kept separated during the firing process. In later times - from about the 16th century - the individual tiles were fired in square brackets, which could be easily stacked one above the other.

Tile mosaics

The oldest forms of wall tiles are mosaics - the tiles were fired only one color. In principle infinite - - star motifs composed of small, trimmed with a pair of pliers, then the sections were abstract. Of such things only a few fragments have been preserved in the Iberian Peninsula. To reduce the enormous costs this Craftsman style was replaced by the Corda Seca technology in the 11th century, were placed in greased cords in incised depressions and so the color glazes kept separated during the firing process. The wall tiles could thus be displaced as a whole; these techniques had inventory even after the Christian Reconquista.

Tile paintings

In the 16th century the old handicrafts of ceramic burner came across new European majolica techniques and the desire of the client after the pictorial representations. Then whole picture cycles were painted and fired on tiles; they served first sacral purposes, but very quickly they found their way into the royal and aristocratic palaces. Rich citizens - especially in the Netherlands - could be such things also make and so the Delft tiles originated.

Function

The architecture used the Azulejos as a decorative element - the interior of churches, monasteries and palaces were covered a large area. As in other art forms to tile motifs developed to fashion trends; a variant were the Azulejos de wallpaper, oriental rugs stone for the wall. In the 19th century azulejos left the interiors and facades busy as the image of the cities. In a new bloom went through the Azulejos Historicism and Art Nouveau, where Antoni Gaudí was back again to the mosaics.

Museum

Even a small museum dedicated to the so-called Portuguese Azulejos: The Museu Nacional do azulejos in Portugal's capital Lisbon interested to know more about the typical Portuguese, blue and white wall tiles.

Azulejos on the exterior of a Portuguese church

House in Aveiro

Azulejos in the Palace of Buçaco in Portugal

Azulejos in the Palace of Buçaco in Portugal (see Battle of Buçaco )

Azulejos decorate the house in Óbidos (Portugal )

Azulejos in the Hotel Convento de São Paulo in Estremoz in Portugal