BLACK DOG OF WELLS

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Ammonite

Ammonites are the fossilised remains of an extinct member of the mollusc family, which lived millions of years ago deep beneath the sea. Found in predominately limestone rocks, they are relatively abundant on Charmouth Beach in Dorset – part of the natural Jurassic World Heritage Coast of Britain.

Although they are still to be found with careful searching, it is better to admire the beautiful convoluted shape without removing it from its natural setting. This attractive garden plaque makes an environmentally friendly and attractive decoration for the wall of a geologist, for gardeners or anyone with an interest in the natural world. The design was originally commissioned by Charmouth Post Office, on the Dorset coast.

Dimensions: 10cm x 11cm

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Arabian Horse

THE HORSE IS GOD'S GIFT TO MANKIND

Most Arab horses are descended from one particular horse from the 19th century stud of Abbas Pasha the first. This decorative tile is based on a contemporary painting: a groom schools the proud horse which is dressed with elaborate trappings, echoed by the richly engraved background pattern.
A special tile for horsemen and women all over the world.

Dimensions: 10.3cm x 10.3cm

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Celtic Fish

PEACE PEACE PEACE

This simple but bold tile design is based on carvings on Pictish stones from the north of Scotland and the outer Isles. It shows three intertwined fishes, each holding another’s tail in its mouth...

Fish had a special significance for the early Christian. The first letters of the five Greek words for ‘Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour’ means ‘fish’. The number three has also always had significance, representing the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The word Peace is carved into each of the three fishes to read Peace, Peace, Peace and the tile makes a lovely present with a message for us all in these hectic times.

Dimensions: 10.5cm

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Dodo

DODO

The flightless, turkey-sized dodo was regarded as a great curiosity by the early 17th century visitors to Mauritius as they sailed in the Indian Ocean. A number of the strange birds were shipped alive to Europe but they were reported as being clumsy and stupid and were slaughtered in large numbers by sailors who visited Mauritius. They were known to be rare by 1640, and the last dodo was dead by 1670.
The only complete stuffed dodo was kept in Oxford, but this was destroyed in a fire in 1755. We know what the dodo looked like: there are several drawings, a head and foot were saved from the fire and skeletons have been reconstructed from bones dug up in the 19th century.
Alfred Waterhouse, the 19th century architect of London’s Natural History Museum, designed a wonderful range of decorative bas relief panels which can still be seen both inside and outside the museum.
Sadly, the tile represents the tragic effect of mankind’s thoughtless treatment of the natural world. This wall hanging would make a great present for all nature lovers – and perhaps for younger people to remind them of this story and to inspire them to care for our earth and its fragile economy.

Dimensions: 10cm x 10.2cm

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Fish Carpe Diem

CARPE DIEM

Usually translated from the Latin of the Roman poet Horace in his Odes as 'seize the day', or sometimes as 'enjoy the day’, or ‘pluck the day when it is ripe'. Lord Byron was the first to integrate the phrase into English in his 'Letters' of 1817: "I never anticipate, - carpe diem - the past at least is one's own, which is one reason for making sure of the present."
The phrase has been enthusiastically absorbed into today’s language, perhaps especially since the cult film The Dead Poets’ Society (1989) used it as a neat summary of the story’s philosophy.
This wall design incorporates fish (carp) to make a visual pun. It makes a good fishing gift for anglers or anyone with a special birthday or anniversary... especially for someone who is retiring or hitting 60 – 70 – 80!

Dimensions: 10.2cm x 10.2cm

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Gargowl

GARGOWL

“Gargoyle - Grotesque spout usually with human or animal mouth head or body, projecting from a gutter of esp. Gothic building to carry water clear of the wall” (Oxford English Dictionary)

With its humorous mis-spelling GARGOWL, the terracotta tile is based on a stone carving on the tower of Brasenose College, Oxford. This wall decor would make a comic gift for bird lovers and be an addition to the collection of any owl fancier...

Dimensions: 10cm x 9.3cm

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Passenger Pigeon

The American Passenger pigeon was very different from our British pigeon. In 19th century North America, flocks of these would darken the sky. Early settlers regarded them as predators and shot the birds indiscriminately in vast numbers. After half a century, the birds dwindled in number and, before they could be saved, they became extinct. The last passenger pigeon died in captivity in a zoo in New York in about1914.
Alfred Waterhouse, the 19th century architect of London’s Natural History Museum, designed a wonderful range of decorative bas relief panels which can still be seen both inside and outside the museum.
Sadly, the Passenger Pigeon represents the tragic effect of mankind’s thoughtless treatment of the natural world. This wall decoration would make a great present for all nature lovers – and perhaps for younger people to remind them of this sad story and to inspire them to care for our earth.

Dimensions: 10.4cm x 10cm

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Rabbit on a Field

A MON SEUL DESIR

The lovely intricate background of many 15th century Flemish tapestries, filled with richly interwoven flowers and herbs, is known as Mille Fleurs - “A thousand flowers”. A design based on this pattern forms the backing for an endearing rabbit taken from the Lady and the Unicorn tapestry in Musée de Cluny, Paris.

The phrase in its formal banner reads ‘à mon seul desir’ which can be translated as ‘for my only love’.
This beautiful intricate wall hanging could make the perfect gift for a child, a lover, or anyone fond of small sweet animals.

Dimensions: 10.5cm x 10.5cm

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Three Hares

Three hares share three ears as they chase each other around the design. Hares in this form have recently been found on the roof of a 6th century Buddhist temple in Dunhuang, Central China. On carpets and in other ways the image must have travelled eastwards and westwards along the Silk Road. Archaeologists have traced examples in Syria, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and the Northern Himalayan area.
For Christians, the number three in any context became a representation of the Trinity, so the image can be also seen in the form of carvings and roof bosses in many medieval European churches. The symbol was adopted by the Guild of Tinners as their emblem and it appears carved in several Cornish churches.
This ceramic wall tile is based on a 14th century roof boss in Wissenburg, Northern France. It is a lovely and interesting tile for people fascinated by the hare and its legend, and for animal lovers everywhere.

Dimensions: 10.5cm

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Ammonite (with background)

Ammonites are the fossilised remains of an extinct member of the mollusc family, which lived millions of years ago deep beneath the sea. Found in predominately limestone rocks, they are relatively abundant on Charmouth Beach in Dorset – part of the natural Jurassic World Heritage Coast of Britain.

Although they are still to be found with careful searching, it is better to admire the beautiful convoluted shape without removing it from its natural setting. This attractive garden plaque makes an environmentally friendly and attractive decoration for the wall of a geologist, for gardeners or anyone with an interest in the natural world. The design was originally commissioned by Charmouth Post Office, on the Dorset coast.

Dimensions: 10.5cm x 10cm

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Cats from Africa

These cats live wild in savannah and bush throughout most of Africa. More lithely built than our domestic moggy, they are usually buff with vague tabby-type markings.
Like all cats, they are nocturnal, but these are also solitary and spend their daytime hiding in long grass or rock crevices. They are ancestors of the domestic cat, with which they will interbreed.

Alfred Waterhouse, the 19th century architect of London’s Natural History Museum, designed a wonderful range of decorative bas relief panels which can still be seen both inside and outside the museum. This decorative design is based on one of these.

Dimensions: 11.2cm

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Pampas Deer

These small deer inhabit the grasslands of South America. They live alone or in small groups, grazing mainly at dusk and hiding in daytime amongst the long grasses. Females – which carry no antlers – will feign injury to lure hunters away from their single young. But the pampas deer have become endangered by uncontrolled hunting, and this tile as well as illustrating an attractive animal represents yet another species that we may be about to lose for ever...

Alfred Waterhouse, the 19th century architect of London’s Natural History Museum, designed a wonderful range of decorative bas relief panels which can still be seen both inside and outside the museum. This wall decoration is based on one of these.

Dimensions: 11.2cm

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Roseisle Geese

The goose is based on a Pictish linear image engraved into stone from Moray, Northern Scotland. The bird is repeated three times to give a satisfying pattern to the terracotta tile.
The number three has also always had significance, representing the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Dimensions: 9cm

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