Medieval Floor Tile Fragment 15th 16th Century Norton Yorkshire COA

Description

This listing is for the exact medieval unglazed floor-tile fragment shown in the photographs. The piece was found at Norton near Malton in North Yorkshire, UK, in April 2002 and is attributed to the mid fifteenth to early sixteenth century AD. It preserves part of a ceramic architectural element from the later medieval period.

Floor tiles were important features in medieval buildings. They created durable walking surfaces in churches, religious houses, substantial homes and other high-status interiors. Some tiles carried coloured glazes, stamped patterns or inlaid decoration, while others were plain and unglazed. This fragment is described as unglazed, allowing the colour and texture of the fired clay body to remain visible.

A tile was made by preparing clay, removing or reducing unsuitable inclusions, pressing the material into a mould or shaped frame, drying it and firing it in a kiln. The finished object needed sufficient thickness and strength to withstand use underfoot. Differences in firing atmosphere could produce variation in colour across the body, while mineral inclusions and voids reveal something of the clay preparation and manufacturing process.

As a fragment, the specimen exposes both original surfaces and broken internal fabric. Archaeologists can study thickness, edge form, wear, firing colour and inclusions to compare building materials between sites and periods. Surface abrasion may reflect foot traffic before the tile broke, while soil contact after discard can create staining and deposits. The surviving piece therefore records manufacture, use, breakage and burial.

Please inspect every photograph carefully. They show the actual medieval tile fragment you will receive, not a stock image or substitute. The views document the upper and lower surfaces, ceramic fabric, thickness, broken edges, colour variation, wear, adhering deposits and any visible impressions. Full sizing is shown in the photographs, so use the pictured measurements or scale to understand its dimensions.

Norton lies close to Malton, an area with a long sequence of settlement and activity. The recorded April 2002 find information is an important part of this object’s provenance. Keeping the locality and date with the specimen increases its value as a documented archaeological collectable, even though the precise building from which the tile originated is not stated.

The proposed mid fifteenth- to early sixteenth-century date places the fragment around the transition from the later medieval world into the early Tudor period. Buildings of this era combined long-established craft traditions with changing architectural fashions. A humble floor-tile fragment offers a direct material connection with those interiors and the people who crossed them.

This piece would suit collections of medieval pottery, architectural fragments, British archaeology, historic building materials and North Yorkshire finds. It is also useful for teaching ceramic identification, fabric analysis, kiln technology and the interpretation of incomplete artefacts.

A generic certificate of authenticity with a lifetime authenticity guarantee is included. Keep it with the Norton provenance and April 2002 find information. The fragment will be packed carefully for transit.

The exact medieval unglazed floor-tile fragment pictured is the item that will be supplied. Its visible ceramic fabric, documented find location and late medieval date make it an engaging study and display specimen.