A Tale of a Tile: A Queen's Boudoir to a Millionaire's Mansion

摘要

James Powell & Sons of the Whitefriars' glassworks, London, began making glass tiles with an eggshell finish during the eighteen sixties [Note 1]. By the end of the century there were plain tiles in a wide range of colours and also 'stencilled' tiles in a large number of patterns. The firm was also prepared to provide special designs to order, which can be traced through the Order and Cash Books, the majority of which can be consulted at the Victoria & Albert Museum's Archive of Art & Design (AAD). An order received in 1902 on behalf of the Crown Prince of Roumania [the spelling of that period] unexpectedly requested tiles decorated with Rose, Thistle and Shamrock [Note 2]. All was explained when it was found that Princess Marie, who was a daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh, appeared to want some reminders of her homeland.