Large medieval inlaid glazed floor tile, depicting a crowned human head within two intersecting vesicas, 13th-14th century. Plain base. From Hyde Abbey, Winchester, Hampshire. Medieval.

Large medieval inlaid glazed floor tile, depicting a crowned human head within two intersecting vesicas, 13th-14th century. Plain base. From Hyde Abbey, Winchester, Hampshire. Medieval.

Floor tile

Medieval, 13th-14th century

Found 5 feet down on the site of Hyde Abbey, Winchester in 1928

Glazed inlaid floor tile with the unusual design of a crowned figure, presumably a king, within two intersecting vesicas or pointed ovals. The base is plain. To make a tile red clay was pressed into a wooden frame. The sides sloped inwards towards the base to enable mortar to be pressed between the tiles without appearing on the surface. The tile was then impressed with a wooden stamp when in a leather-hard state. White pipe-clay was poured into the impressed design. The decorated tile was covered with a lead glaze. This turned the red body a deeper shade, and the white inlay yellow. The tile was then fired in a kiln.

Large medieval inlaid glazed floor tile, depicting a crowned human head within two intersecting vesicas, 13th-14th century. Plain base. From Hyde Abbey, Winchester, Hampshire. Medieval.