English Delftware

A square arrangement of 9 individual biscuit tiles painted in rich shades of blue and made to look old, chipped, and cracked. On the top row, there is: a ship with billowing sails approaching a dock, with two stylized ducks or geese in the foreground; a delicate flower motif in the centre of a bright white tile with deep blue detail at each corner; a cracked tile depicting two figures in rustic historical dress looking out to sea, accompanied by a small dog. The middle row features: a roughly painted castle surrounded by an octagonal frame; an intricate floral arrangement with an angel at each of the tile’s four corners; a cluster of small rustic buildings with boat sails and a flock of birds in the distance. Finally, on the bottom row of biscuits there is: a figure fishing in the foreground of a multi-storey round tower; a woman wearing a flowing eighteenth-century gown, framed by a deep blue floral pattern; a small vase of flowers in the centre of an aged white biscuit.

Biscuit (cookie) flavour: Speculaas spices (including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cardamom)

Decoration: Royal icing base. Designs painted onto royal icing using food colouring gels and vodka. Aged effect created using food colouring gels and scratch marks.

Context: Inspired by examples of English delftware tiles in the Victoria & Albert Museum collections, dating from c.1710 to 1775.