1. Persian Tiles  Students will learn to make tiles using under-glaze and majolica techniques.  The lesson incorporates art history, multi-culture, aesthetics, and criticism with hands on activity.  The Lesson focuses on important design elements and a variety of technical skills essential to tile making

2. History  The creation of Persian Tiles began about 1200 A.D.  After conquering Timer, the people of Persia learned from the Chinese pottery that many colors could be added to one tile.

3. History  By 1500 A.D., the colors of Chinese pottery became a integral part of Persian tile-making and unique to the region.  Persian tile decorating reached its zenith in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Tiles are used in two different ways for art.  First the mosaic- a design created from gluing bits of different colored tiles together.  Second, in Persian, is called Ghlami- a technique where several colors are painted onto one tile with a brush.  You will be creating Persian Ghlami tiles using under-glazes and or majolica technique.

4. Examples of Persian Tiles

5. Background  Persian tile designs were not created by the tile-maker, but rather by a design specialists. The tile-maker expanded the design to fit the working space- the wall, a floor, a roof.  The Designs were repeated over and over again. Each tile had its own part of the overall pattern.  The tile design like carpet design is both a craft and a industry that has evolved in Persia over the centuries.  Small specialties firms over all of Iran employ very talented artisans to design and make carpets, tiles, pottery, brass work, woodwork, and fabric.  These are very complicated, very beautiful art form, and the craft is studied and learned from one generation to another.

6. New Vocabulary:  Mojolica- a type of elaborately decorated pottery developed in the Middle Ages and refined in the Renaissance. White tin glazed earth-wear was painted and decorated with stains and oxides.  We can have the same effects using safer materials today.  Persia- the former name for a country in the Middle East (Southwestern Asia) now called Iran.  Under-glaze- a special type of color that is put on a ceramic piece before the glaze. It has no flux (glass former) in it so it stays where it put when fired and is good for detail work.

7. Instructions: Making the under-glaze tile  Step 1 Group or individual project. (Group 8 or more tiles, Individual 4 or more tiles)  Step 2 Roll out (4 or 8) ½ inch thick 7” x 7” clay Squares.  Make sure they are all the same size and thickness.  Step 3 Bisque Fire Tiles.

8. Instructions: Pattern  Make your pattern, or choose one of mine  Using your unglazed bisque tiles, transfer or trace the design onto the tiles with the carbon method.

9. Instructions: Under-glaze Tiles  Use the black Velvet under-glaze and other colors to paint the outline of the carbon tracing.  Select colors to reflect the design or effect you wish to achieve.  Fill in each area of the design, each color, using three coats of under-glaze or velvets for complete coverage.  Go over the outline again to make sure that all the lines are precise thickness.  Check all the colors for complete and solid coverage.

10. Instructions: Under-glaze Tiles  When the tile is complete and the under-glazes are dry, apply at least two coats of clear glaze.  Wait for each coat to dry before applying the next coat.  Tiles are fired to cone 04 (1400*F)

11. Instructions: Majolica Tiles  Choose a pattern or design your own.  Apply four coats of opaque white glaze to the tile.  Be sure each coat is dry before the next coat is painted.  When the glaze is completely dry, carefully trace design onto tile using the carbon transfer method.

12. Instructions: Majolica Tiles  Use AMACO black from the majolica gloss decorating color series (GDC) to outline the design. This is applied over the unfired white glaze.  Basic background colors using Majolica Gloss Decorating Colors are applied with three coats.  Tile is fired to cone 04 for four hours creating rich colors with a glossy surface texture.

13. Student Persian Tile Examples