Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece Main Menu Explore All Objects by Location Explore All Objects by Material Explore all objects at the College of the Holy Cross All Objects

When was this made?

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The Tristan series Chertsey tiles were probably also commissioned for Westminster Palace, just like the combat series tiles.  Technical details suggest that the combat tiles were commissioned slightly earlier than the Tristan tiles.  However, again like the combat series tiles, none of the Tristan tiles were ever found at Westminster.  Instead, they were found at Chertsey Abbey.  The Tristan tiles, including this one, were probably made and laid at Chertsey Abbey between 1250 and 1290. 

The Chertsey tiles resemble some other secular-themed tiles that remain today in the chapter house of Westminister Abbey in London. Those tiles must have been laid by 1258/9. The Chertsey tiles and the Westminster chapter house tiles display similarities in design and technique, alongside the overall concept of two-tone pictorial tiles laid with substantial inscriptions

Chertsey Abbey suffered from a fire in 1235.  It is probable that the famous two-tone Chertsey tiles were part of the rebuilding after that fire.  Rebuilding often took decades.

 

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  1. Isolde in the boat to Brittany, Tristan series tile (BM 1885,1113.8990) Brooke Hendershott

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