Islamic tiles

Figure 3.27 - Adams, Z., (2019). Islamic tiles. Ceramic tiles with geometric and arabesques design applied.

This collection of ceramic tiles makes reference to Islamic tiles from between the 12th to 14th century (see figure 3.28) and Moroccan tiles. The eight pointed star combined with the cross are popular tile shapes in the world of Islamic tiles. Many of the tiles display arabesques designs and are boarded with Arabic calligraphy of either poetry or Quranic scriptures.

Figure 3.28 - Porter, V., (1995). Star and cross lustre tiles.

Using the CAD program called Rhinoceros, I designed and then 3D printed stencils that I could use to press a design into the tiles (see figure 3.29). I used this method to ensure that all the tiles would come out the same because they needed to fit together well.

Figure 3.29 - Adams, Z., (2019). 3D printed tile stencils.

For another set of tiles I applied a thin layer of slip to create a botanical arabesque pattern. The technique I used is a lot like applying henna. I filled a plastic packed with slightly firm constancy of clay, cut a hole out in the corner and squeezed the slip out to create the vines leaves and flowers on the tile (see figure 3.30). When painting on the glaze, I filled the surface of the tile with a thick layer of glaze and used a wet cloth to wipe off the glaze from the slip pattern. I painted the slip pattern on after.

Figure 3.30 - Adams, Z., (2019). Plastic bag of slip clay.

This collection of tiles was a means of spiritual mediation. I have inscribed Quranic verses of the testimony of faith around the edges. The tiles are similar to the ceramic bowls in the way the inscriptions are never ending and in addition they continue on from one tile to the next.

Arabic Calligraphy ceramic bowls

Figure 3.25 - Adams, Z., (2018) Ceramic bowls with Arabic Calligraphy written on them. 

The bowls in this collection are made from stoneware clay and has blue and green glaze applied to it. These pieces made reference to Arabic calligraphy and antique Islamic ceramic bowls. On all three bowls, the inscriptions around the edges are a testimony of faith, which reads, "In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful".

Figure 3.26 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, (2019). Bowl with Arabic Inscription.

These pieces served as a form of spiritual mediation for me. The message I took from the bowl in figure 3.26, is that the Arabic inscription, written in a circular manner, creates a text is endless. The deeper message that I understood from my pieces is that if you begin a thing with Allah in mind, knowing that he is the most gracious and the most merciful, then surely He will be gracious and have mercy on you regarding what follows. 



This form of Islamic art is identified by majority of Muslims simply because the holy book, the Quran, is originally in Arabic. Artists chose certain versus from the Quran which hold a special meaning and wrote it out in a stylized manner.

This is why one will find Calligraphy on walls of buildings, paintings, utensils, jewellery, ceramics and other forms of art. It is also found in different parts of the Islamic world in styles specific to that region.

This beautiful form of art can be carried gracefully through jewellery, the challenge is figuring out just how...