The colors of Lisbon Series

Updated: Jan 22, 2021

Dating as far back as the 13th century, azulejos tiles have a long history in Iberian culture. Arabic in origin, azulejos tiles were brought over with the Moorish invasion of Spain.

The word azulejos itself in fact comes from the Arabic ‘az-zulayj’, which means ‘polished stone. At first, the term exclusively referred to North African mosaics. However, as they rose in popularity, azulejos gradually became the accepted word for any decorative glazed tile measuring five to six inches square.

It wasn’t until Portugal’s King Manuel I visited Seville in the 15th century that azulejos tiles gained a foothold in Portuguese culture. He fell in love with the ornate decorative tile details, and whether on the facade of cathedrals or as murals inside Gothic palaces, they soon became a staple of the era’s architecture.

Initially imported from Islamic Seville, Portugal’s earliest azulejos tiles featured simple geometric and chessboard prints. In line with Islamic law, the tiles were prohibited from depicting human figures.

However, as Portugal began producing their own tiles in the 16th and 17th centuries, these simple shapes evolved into elaborate artwork that captured various historic, religious, and cultural themes. In this way, azulejos tiles become an important means of preserving Portugal’s identity.

Contrary to popular belief, azulejos tiles go far beyond the classic blue and white colorway. The blue and white only became prominent later on in Portugal’s history, strongly influenced by the Age of Discovery and the fashionable Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelain. Before this, azulejos tiles came in an array of vibrant hues; from sunshine yellows to fiery reds and verdant greens.