A view entitled 'Old Cloisters, Rouen', they
being attached to the ancient
cathedral having quite an eventful history.
A nicely detailed engraving printed in dark
brown and painted underglaze.
Quite similar to the 'Views' series from
Mintons China Works especially the "Old
Houses Rouen" view the series engraved by L
T Swetnam. This view also appears in the Mintons
catalogue however this tile is not by Mintons
indeed is unattributed and the manufacturer
almost certainly copied it from the same source
as Mintons. Picture books were widely used as
source materials for pictures on ceramics and
when signed for example by Wise and Swetnam
usually indicates that they were engravers
rather than creative artists.
This and the companion
tile were centrepieces in a cast iron
fireplace.
Verso unmarked generic bars, the die has been
modified a central circle for a badge has been
filled in. Possibly Ollivant,