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A Group of Late Medieval Inscribed Tiles from Bordesley Abbey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2014

Abstract

A group of unusual, large, rectangular ceramic tiles excavated from the abbey church of Bordesley (Worcestershire) is presented. These tiles were handmade locally, using the sgraffiato technique, and have part of two inscriptions in English. The larger inscription, which combines Lombardie capitals with black letter, was commemorative. The stratigraphie context suggests that the tiles were originally laid in the retrochoir in the late fifteenth to early sixteenth century as part of a tiled setting over a grave. A review of examples of other special purpose tiles made using the sgraffiato technique illustrates the adaption of this technique for individual funerary memorials.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1998

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