Mermaid tile

Stove Tile

Kályhacsempe szirén alakjával (Siren/Mermaid Stove Tile)

Description: In the center of the stove tile is a two-tailed female mermaid. The mermaid has a human face, torso (with breasts) and waist, but in place of legs, it has two long fish-like tail appendages. Long wavy hair runs down both sides of the face. Atop the head is a tri-partite crown. Both tails are scaly, fish like and have four fins each: one fin on the side of the tail closer to the torso, and three facing away from the torso. The fins appear to be striated and triangular in shape. At the end of each tail, is a three-part vine-like flower. The mermaid appears to be holding both of her tails with outstretched arms, though there is no presence of hands. The mermaid is dressed in a sleeveless bodice, belt, and a pleated skirt out of which come the diverging fish tails. The overall shape of the mermaid is that of the Latin letter W.

Documentary Notes

Red clay, brown/green glaze 16.4cm x 16.6 cm Excavated from the Buda Vár Date: Second part of the 14th century (Angevin period) Currently in the collection of the Budapest Története Muzeum (BTM 52.3167) Photo from: Művészet I. Lajos Király Korában, ed. Marosi Ernő (1982)

contributor: McEntee, Brian, m04mcb01@student.ceu.hu, Central European University