Tile fountain

Nº inv.: CE1/11507

This fountain is made with irregular monochrome tiles forming a geometric arrangement of green, white and black stars. Small glazed tiles, varying in colour, are cut into different shapes that, once combined and juxtaposed, form a decorative covering for walls or floors.

This fountain comes from the Plaza del Poeta Bádenas, the former Plaza de la Higuereta in Valencia and dates from the 14th century. Some pieces are hard to date as they come from old and badly-documented discoveries, whilst others come from clear time periods before the Christian conquest. Other similar fountains have also been found in Valencia.

An important result of the Muslim presence in Valencia was the appearance of tiling. Examples of ceramic tiling can be found from the Caliphate period (10th century) and from the Almoravid period (11th to 12th centuries). However, ornamental tiling in patios or fountains (such as this piece) was not documented before the 13th century.

On display in the Sala de ceramica arquitectónica hispanomusulmana (Hispano-Muslim Architectural Ceramics Room), second floor.