William De Morgan Tiles

Nine square biscuits arranged into a square to look like a panel of old tiles. The biscuit set features an array of designs in shades of blue, green, red, and cream. On the top row, there are: a striking blue deer with purple-red spots; a symmetrical leafy design with a vivid blue flower in the centre; and a glazed relief of a lion and a lioness facing in opposite directions against a patchy rust-red background. The middle row includes a stylised green line drawing of a galleon ship on choppy waters, two flowers on a rich blue background, and a design densely filled with small green leaves and pomegranates. The bottom row features a monochrome design with small red leaves and flowers, a symmetrical design with spirals, leaves, and flower shapes in shades of blue, and a glazed biscuit with a Tudor rose and leaves in spruce green against a rich blue background.

Biscuit (cookie) flavour: Orange, cardamom, and vanilla

Decoration: Royal icing base. Designs painted by hand using food colouring gels and vodka, with relief details piped in royal icing. Aged effect created using food colouring gels and scratch marks. The glaze is made from a homemade piping gel (a mixture of cornflour, sugar, lemon juice, and water).

Context: Inspired by tiles featured in The William De Morgan Tile Library at Wightwick Manor. The Library is a collaboration between the National Trust and the De Morgan Foundation.

William De Morgan (1839–1917) was an enormously influential ceramic artist associated with the Arts & Crafts movement.