Delft Tile & Iznik Tile by Margaret Light

The creation of decorative art has a long history, however due to the ravages of time, not a great deal of it has survived for us to admire today. 

Although we can be sure that our ancient ancestors were probably as eager to decorate their clothing, bodies, dwellings and places of worship then as we are today, for much of it we can only speculate as to what it may have looked like or what form it took.

However, we are fortunate that one particular form of decorative art, the art of ceramics, was so durable.

It is no wonder that ceramic tiles remain such a fantastic source of inspiration, as thanks to the manufacturing processes, the colours and designs often remain as vivid today as they were when they were first fired.

Decorative ceramic tiles have been around since the time of the Ancient Egyptians and over the centuries they have been used to decorate walls, cover floors and adorn buildings both inside and out. From the Islamic world through to the Industrial Revolution, decorative tiles have provided a medium for artists to express their ideas and beliefs in a stunning, durable way.

The first two projects in Margaret Light’s book ‘A Fine Tradition’ draw on the art of the decorative tile. The first, entitled Iznik Tile, is inspired by tiles from the inside of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. Dating from the mid 16th century, most of the tiles still remaining in the palace display floral designs in blues, greens and a beautiful, deep iron-red.

Margaret’s design displays an elegant symmetry and pleasing, curved lines. Her floral design is worked mainly in deep blues and greens with the perfect amount of eye-catching coppery-red to really make an impact. 

She employs an array of stitches to provide a magnificent variation in texture, offering a depth to the design which could never have been fully realized in the ceramic original. Her stylised tulips, carnations and hyacinths sit proud in the sinuous vase resulting in a piece which will be just as striking on a cosy mantlepiece as it would be on a palace wall.

Shifting countries, periods and styles, the second project is a Delft tile inspired by Delftware from the Netherlands which had its heyday among Dutch and Flemish potters during the 16th and 17th centuries. 

Adorning the tile is a representation of a blue and white Delft pottery fruit bowl. Bursting from the bowl is a cornucopia of pears, cherries and figs, all worked in a delicious array of colours and stitches with no two fruits sharing the same texture or design.

The original tiles were often produced to decorate hearths and stoves in European households, so this project would look perfect hanging in a country kitchen or a cosy living area.

There is no end of inspiration to be found in historic decorative ceramics and, in the hands of a master designer such as Margaret Light, these tile projects are simply sublime. 

You’ll find enjoyment from the minute you thread your needle until the final stitch in both of these projects, which together, form the perfect pair. 

They may cross cultures and countries but together, they demonstrate the beauty of the decorative arts no matter the origin.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Delft Tile by Margaret Light from the book A Fine Tradition features a fruit bowl laden with pears, figs and cherries, inspired by 17th century Delft tiles.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Delft Tile includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning tile: Fabric (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Iznik Tile by Margaret Light from the book A Fine Tradition features tulips, carnations and hyacinths in a vase reflecting Islamic decorative arts.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Iznik Tile includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning tile: Fabric (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book.