Richard and Saladin; Combat Series; Chertsey tiles


Detail of Richard	Detail of Saladin

Richard and Saladin; Combat Series; Chertsey tiles
Object type: floor-tile
British Museum number: 1885,1113.9051-9060
Title (series) Richard and Saladin; Combat Series; Chertsey tiles
Description: Earthenware floor-tiles, lead-glazed with inlaid slip decoration.
Four quarter tiles making up a circular picture; six surviving fragments; representation of Saladin (Salah al-Din) on horseback, in combat with his adversary Richard I (Coeur de Lion), portrayed on 1885,1113.9051-9060. Set into mosaic tiles of foliate design.
Culture/period: Late Medieval
Date: 1250s
Production place: Made in: Chertsey (Europe, United Kingdom, England, Surrey, Chertsey)
Findspot: Chertsey Abbey (Europe, United Kingdom, England, Surrey, Chertsey, Chertsey Abbey)
Materials: earthenware
Technique: slip-decorated; lead-glazed; inlaid
Dimensions: Diameter: 260 millimetres
Curator's comments: The individual segment tiles make up a circle which fits into a set of frame tiles.
For more information see Chertsey tiles: Richard and Saladin

Referenced on p64, Knight - Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600 by Christopher Gravett.
Tiles of about 1255-60, from Chertsey Abbey in Surrey, depicting Richard I jousting against Saladin. Note the crown around Richard's helm.