Tegeltableau met zwanen en bladwerk c. 1910

This tile tableau with swans and foliage by Plateelbakkerij De Distel presents a captivating dance between nature and artifice. The muted palette, dominated by greens, creams, and earthy browns, lends the scene a serene, almost dreamlike quality. It feels like a story unfolding, one tile at a time. The real magic lies in the details. The way the glaze pools and thins, creating subtle variations in color and texture, speaks to the hand of the maker. Look closely at the swans' feathers, rendered with delicate strokes and subtle gradations. These feel both precise and intuitive. They invite you to run your fingers across the surface, to feel the contours of the design. The arrangement of tiles creates an overall sense of symmetry, but each section still has its unique variations. This echoes the work of William Morris, who believed that art should be both beautiful and functional, and that the process of making should be celebrated. This tableau embodies that spirit. It's a testament to the enduring power of art to transform the everyday into something extraordinary.