MEDIEVAL PAVEMENT AND WALL TILES OF DERBYSHIRE. 1 25 



think Of a better term tlian enamelled, for the film looks like 

 enamel, but technically it is very different from a true one. Some- 

 times the film is apparently purposely left over the whole surface 

 when the tile may be regarded as an embossed one in low relief 

 Indeed, we cannot draw a hard line between these various classes • 

 sometimes the mlay is purposely left out of one of the inlaid type 

 as for mstance, No. 13, plate A, which occurs with an inlay at 

 Dale, and without one at Repton. Incised tiles were particularly 

 liable to receive inlays ; but as it was usual for these tiles to have 

 a wash of light or very dark slip, the remains of this slip in the 

 incisions when worn oft the rest of the surface, are likely to be 

 mistaken for an inlay. 



The glazes played a highly important part. Tlieir ever-varying 

 hues altered and mellowed down the pattern, and ground-colours 

 into all manner of yellows, buffs, burnt siennas and tender greens 

 contrasted with rich browns, chestnuts, and chestnut-blacks We 

 rarely find these old tiles untouched with the effects of age and 

 wear; but when we do, we can form some idea of the rich, varied 

 colouring their pavements must have presented. Herein were 

 they superior to our modern work, which in colour is terribly 

 harsh and unilorm, and in design too exact. 



The stamps were obviously of wood, for occasionally the 

 impress of its grain (oak, apparently) may be detected in the hollows 

 from which the inlay has fallen, and even showing through tlie 

 enamel of the other variety of encaustic tiles. Now and again an 

 interval in which the inlay colour is replaced with that of the 

 body may be noticed to cross the pattern; this is caused by a 

 crack or split in the stamp, such as that to which wood is liable 

 when subjected to alternations of moisture and dryness These 

 dark lines should be borne in mind, lest a particularly straight one 

 be mistaken for part of the design. In a back volume of our 

 Journal ou^ of the Fenny Bentley tiles, bearing the arms of the 

 bee of Lichfield, is described as "counter-changed per bend 

 sinister." To judge from a tracing, this bend is simply one of 

 these fissures. The stamps varied in size according to the 

 required tiles ; but it frequently happened that a small stamp was 



