Images

Azulejos (glazed ceramic tiles) on a building in Lisbon, Portugal. Date of photo unknown.

The Art Nouveau period (c. 1890-1910 CE) saw the facades of Portuguese houses and buildings decorated with the flowing, curved lines of flowers, plants, vines, leaves, insects and animals that were typical of the Art Nouveau movement. This...

The Baroque (c. 1600-1750 CE) and Rococo (c. 1700-1800) movements led to a style of azulejos (glazed ceramic tile) that is unique to Portugal – figuras de convite or invitation figures. These were ornate life-size figures, usually a finely...

This is a public monument in Portugal that is typical of azulejos (glazed ceramic tiles) that show Portugal's proud seafaring history. Date of the panel is not known. Date the photo taken is not known.

The Chicken’s Wedding panel (1660-1667 CE) is an azulejo (glazed ceramic tile) from the 17th century CE. A chicken is conveyed in a carriage that is escorted by a cortege of monkeys playing musical instruments. Singerie (French for “Monkey...

A public staircase in Lisbon, Portugal showing azulejos (glazed ceramic tiles). During the early 18th century CE, Portuguese tile artisans fell under the influence of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) Chinese porcelain design and Dutch Delftware...

Retábulo de Nossa Senhora da Vida (1580 CE) or Our Lady of Life is Portugal’s oldest azulejo (glazed ceramic tile) and is an important piece of 16th century CE Portuguese tile production. It is on display at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon...

Islamic ceramic tiles in the Arab Room in the Sintra palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra), Portugal. King Manuel I of Portugal (r.1495-1521 CE) imported azulejos (glazed ceramic tiles) from the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain to decorate...

Mosque of the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra) located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was erected by the Muslim caliph Abd el-Malik in 688-691 CE but Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566 CE) was responsible for the mosque’s renovation...

This is a reconstruction of the Great Gate of Ishtar that stood at the entrance to the ancient city of Babylon. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605/604-562 BCE) ordered the gate to be constructed in c. 575 BCE and it features lions...