Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/302

 232 NOTICES OF NEAV TUBLICATIONS. instances by simple combination of red and white clays, as also the pre- cision with which the designs were expressed by means of this ingeni- ous expedient of medieval art. The varieties of design exhibited by these tiles are endless ; in the publications, to which it is our present object to invite attention, many of the most striking specimens will be found ; we regret that the dimensions of these fac-similes, which are given for the most part of the full size of the originals, preclude the possibility of our offering any here for the inspection of our readers : we have endeavoured to supply the deficiency by placing before them reduced representations of a number of very interesting decorative tiles hitherto unpublished, existing in Christ Church cathedral, Oxford. To these we have been enabled to add, by the kindness of Mr. John Gough Nichols, several reduced fac- similes of tiles of the fifteenth century. We are indebted to Mr. John Gough Nichols for the first attempt to give a Series of medieval tiles, used in England ; his publication materially con- tributed to call attention to the appropriate and beautiful character of pave- ments of this description, as decorations accessory to architecture, and to aid the selection of good models for modern use. This publication includes many interesting heraldic tiles and personal devices, memorials mostly of benefactors to the fabric which they adorned ; such, for example, as the Stafford knot issuing from the nave, of a wheel, and the swan of the Bohuns, here represented. Armorial subjects seem singularly suited for the enrichment of pave- ments of this description, and they are of frequent occurrence. A very good example of the combination of the bearings of husband and wife, the single and impaled coats alternating, is supplied by a tile from Great Malvern, given by Mr. Nichols, charged with the bearing of the Bracys, of Madresfield, who contributed to the rebuilding of the abbey church. It is the quarter of an elegant compartment of four. The most singular application, however, of fictile ornament, recorded by Mr. Nichols, is the use of tiles in place of panelled wood, to cover and decorate the lower part of the walls of the choir of a church, or any por- tion of the structure where stall-work or carved wainscot was customarily' introduced. Our thanks are due to him for enabling us here to lay before our readers reduced fac-similes of these curious tiles : they are given of the full size of the originals in his work, to which we must refer for a description. Each tile measures 8| in. by 6^ in., the set forming a design resembling stall-work, three feet and a half in length. We are not aware that any similar application of terra-cotta had been noticed in England or continental countries. These examples are from Great Malvern.- The dimensions of our page will not allow of the entire set being here given in their proper order : the tile forming the base is ornamented with the symbol of the pelican, the uppermost tile is dated 36 Hen. VI. (1457-8.) In connexion with these illustrations of tile pavements, Mr. Nichols notices a very curious ornamental pavement at Canterbury cathedral formed of circular slabs, sculptured with designs in low relief, the excised