An excellent tube line 2-tile panel with
gorgeous colours and glazes, bright and colouful
the colours including purple and royal blue the
flowerhead with blended colours. Such panels are
rarely found, almost invariably fixed to walls
and difficult to salvage especially when there
is pressure for the refurbishment or demolition
works to proceed at full speed.
Art nouveau designs spreading across two
tiles vertically are uncommon (6 x 12 single
tiles are very rare) there are however a good
number of variable height panels designed
primarily for dados and fireplace slabs. Often
the intervening tiles are repeated and somewhat
nonedescript even as simple as a plain stem
(see this
clipping from an original catalogue (at the
bottom of the page)) in which case the top
and bottom tiles as a panel can make appealing
and elaborate display items for collectors.
These appear to have have been a special
order or limited edition, the pattern number is
from a range apparently reserved for such tiles
for it is rarely seen and only on unusual tiles
notably tube line panels and fireplace
interiors. Removed from a prestigious property
in Rio de Janeiro.
Versos are spotless and typical Richards'
diagonal bars from around 1905 - 7, painted
pattern number.