The Serafina blue terracotta tile is hand-painted with naïve decoration in several shades of blue over an off-white background. Made in a Southern Italian artisan studio, the pattern is identified as Sicilian in origin and 17th century in character. Four tiles meet to complete the repeat, while the background and terracotta body are delicately aged to soften the finished composition.

Aged Colour in the Serafina Blue Terracotta Tile

Serafina uses tonal blue rather than a single flat pigment, allowing the hand-painted lines and forms to vary across the four-tile unit. The naïve quality of the drawing contrasts with the order of the repeat, giving the surface character without losing visual coherence. Ageing in the off-white ground helps the tile sit comfortably beside natural stone, timber and lime-based finishes.

Within the collection, Elisabella Blue and White offers another 17th-century Sicilian four-tile pattern with informal blue decoration. Vicenzo Blue and White provides a more intricate 19th-century interpretation. Elsewhere at De Ferranti, the Delft Tile in White and Blue shows a distinct northern European tin-glazed tradition, while the Sintra Blue Sponged Mottled Tile introduces a Portuguese field surface with softly hand-applied colour.

It forms part of the Italianate Handpainted Tiles Collection.

Setting Out a Four-Tile Repeat

Serafina may be considered for floors, walls, kitchens, bathrooms, staircases, fireplace surrounds, restaurants, tabletops, swimming-pool areas and warm-climate exterior use, subject to specification. The complete four-tile unit should be reviewed before installation so its larger motif remains legible. A sample panel will help determine grout width, colour balance and the distribution of aged tonal variation across the proposed area.

Project Guidance and Enquiries

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