Twee majolica tegels uit het kasteel van Oiron, Frankrijk, 1545-1550

Dim.: 11 x 11 cm (each tile)

Condition: (UV-checked)
- The tile with 'double D' pattern (please note that the tile is illustrated erroneously, please refer to the additional images for the correct direction) showing the initials of Henry II and Diane de Poitiers.
One corner section lacking and filled, with repainting. Otherwise in good condition with minor superficial wear.
- The tile with 'I' pattern in good condition with small chips along the rims. In the center of the tile, a few small sections of superficial glaze loss retouched.

Provenance: The collection of Piet Swimberghe, art historian and author of various works and articles on the subject of European pottery.

The chapel of the Oiron castle was built by Claude Gouffier, related to Anne de Montmorency, who built the chapel at Fère-en-Tardenois. The entire floor of the chapel consisted of maiolica tiles of the type presented. It also included the builder's motto: Hic Terminus Haeret. The floor is still largely intact in situ. A number of tiles found their way into private collections in the 19th C. The Musée National de Céramique de Sèvres was given nine tiles, which are described in the 1897 catalogue. (link) It is supposed that the tiles were produced locally.

See also:
- Octave Guillaume de Rochebrune, Revue Poitou et Vendée (n°64) : Faïences d'Oiron, for an illustration of four tiles. (link)
- Conference on ceramics from the Oiron Region, 2013, for an illustration of four tiles. (link)