Old Tiles
The tiles you see in some of the Peranakan Homes, temples and mosques in and around Malacca are European tiles but there are also ones that are manufactured in Japan.
Apart from Malaysia and Singapore, these tiles are also found in countries like Burma, Taiwan, India and some Dutch colonies although the Dutch tiles are of different style.
These tiles are known as Majolica tiles, although they are originally from England, they are named after the port they usually leave from which is Majolica, Italy.
In the 1920's when the designs for the tiles changed from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, the British exported the machines to make tiles from England to Japan and the reason was Japan had the same type of clay to manufacture these tiles. So, the Japanese helped the British to manufacture these tiles and they employed Chinese artists to draw auspicious elements such as dragons, phoenix, flowers and fruits on the surface of the tiles. These designs are specific and appreciated by the Chinese and the Japanese sold a lot of these tiles to South East Asia.
One of these tiles featured is from the Sato Tile Works, Japan. With an Art Nouveau design. You can see raised lines seperate the high glazed colours in rich shades of emerald green, yellow and magenta.
During the Industrial Revolution in 1935 the production of these tiles stopped and at that time it was also discovered that some of the materials used for the manufacturing of these tiles were toxic. Lead, cobalt, copper among other materials used. The glaze used during that period is different from that of today. It not only gives luster to the colour but it also acts as a sealant to protect the tile and keep it intact.
Source: Melaka Memories
Apart from Malaysia and Singapore, these tiles are also found in countries like Burma, Taiwan, India and some Dutch colonies although the Dutch tiles are of different style.
These tiles are known as Majolica tiles, although they are originally from England, they are named after the port they usually leave from which is Majolica, Italy.
In the 1920's when the designs for the tiles changed from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, the British exported the machines to make tiles from England to Japan and the reason was Japan had the same type of clay to manufacture these tiles. So, the Japanese helped the British to manufacture these tiles and they employed Chinese artists to draw auspicious elements such as dragons, phoenix, flowers and fruits on the surface of the tiles. These designs are specific and appreciated by the Chinese and the Japanese sold a lot of these tiles to South East Asia.
One of these tiles featured is from the Sato Tile Works, Japan. With an Art Nouveau design. You can see raised lines seperate the high glazed colours in rich shades of emerald green, yellow and magenta.
During the Industrial Revolution in 1935 the production of these tiles stopped and at that time it was also discovered that some of the materials used for the manufacturing of these tiles were toxic. Lead, cobalt, copper among other materials used. The glaze used during that period is different from that of today. It not only gives luster to the colour but it also acts as a sealant to protect the tile and keep it intact.
Source: Melaka Memories
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