APOTHECARY TILES | THE STORY:

A collection of handmade tiles by Fiona Biddington.  

Perched on the cliffs above the Nidd Gorge, the historic spa town of Knaresborough, which translates to ‘fortress on the rock’, is home to artist Fiona Biddington. Follow the winding medieval streets and stone staircases and you’ll find Fiona’s 18th-century stone cottage and ceramic studio.

The town has long been shrouded in magic and mystery, a place famed for hermits, saints and sorcery, so it’s not surprising that Fiona’s pottery tells of folklore, myth and magic, of wise women and their hedgerow remedies.

For this new collection of hand-made tiles, Fiona has been influenced by ancient herbals and illuminated manuscripts which document plants, animals and insects and their medicinal, culinary, or magical properties.

Fiona’s process is equally alchemical and ancient. Black stoneware is pressed, rolled and cut into each tile before a delicate raised border, in a quatrefoil shape, is added. Reminiscent of the pottery labels on early apothecary jars and medieval tiles, these areas are formed with tiny dots of slip (wet) clay.

The tiles are left to dry once again before being bisque fired, and a layer of milky white glaze is applied to the centre. Once dried, Fiona hand-paints each tile with a mixture of glazes and oxides in tones of faded ochre and rich inky blues - each one hand-painted and completely unique.

A final buff-coloured glaze is applied to the outer edges, which, as it fires, reveals tiny patches of the black stoneware clay, giving the tiles an ancient, parchment-like appearance - utterly beautiful.

These rich and layered tiles are perfect for a fireside hearth, kitchen and light-filled windowsills. We’ve known for many years that objects, made by artists and skilled craftsmakers, cultivate a sense of wellbeing in the homes they inhabit. These Apothecary Tiles, inspired by healing recipes and spells, further explore this idea of nourishment and magic.