Niche Tile

Polychrome niche tile made in approximately 1625. The tile has some little restorations. The edge of the tile has a floral motif.

Niche Tiles Niche top/Niche side/Niche floor. In North Holland, Particulary in the Zaanstreek and Westfriesland, a fireplace type is occasionally found, on either side of which small niche has been inserted. One of the earliest examples is the niche in the 'Sint Pietershof' at Hoorn, dating from 1617 (De Ree 1989, Tegel 17, fig.3, p 2-9; further De Jonge 1947, fig.92, p. 125). Such a niche or recess is usually about 40 cm high, 20 cm wide and 14 cm deep. See Jan Pluis 1997 the Dutch Tile Designs and Names 1570 – 1930 fig. 60 p.61. Special tiles were made for such niches: The niche floor, (often mistakenly called 'vensterbanktegel') (window-silltile; a niche floor has nothing to do with window-sills), the niche side and the scalloped niche top tile See Jan Pluis 1997 The Dutch Tile Designs and Names 1570 – 1930 (figs.61-63 p.61). The edges of the tiles, where visible, were painted with garland or zigzag motifs. Niche floors vary in size from about 18 to 20 cm. square. As the niche is only 14 cm deep, the niche floor extends about 5 cm. in front of the wall; this is the way the edges of this protruding part are also painted. Niche floors were produced in Amsterdam although some may have been made in Hoorn.