Western Europe, perhaps France or Italy, ca. late 18th to early 19th century. A trio of large, beautiful ceramic tiles, each one decorated by hand with the face of Medusa flanked by wings and serpents emerging from her hair. All is glazed in black and white against a black oval and surrounded by a checkerboard pattern. Medusa was generally interpreted as a winged female Gorgon with a coiffure of living venomous snakes. According to Greek mythology, whomever dared to gaze upon her face would turn to stone. A fine collection that celebrates classical mythology. These tiles originally were used to decorate fireplaces as well as floors and walls. Size of thickest tile: 8" L x 2.5" W x 8" H (20.3 cm x 6.4 cm x 20.3 cm); thinner tile: 8" L x 1" W x 7" H (20.3 cm x 2.5 cm x 17.8 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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#163101

Losses and chips to corners of all three as shown. Cavity and abrasion to face of tile on two. Two have a large portion of the original stone/masonry they were anchored to attached to the versos. The third has an indiscernible stamp on the verso.