Inspired by the typical colours and decorations of Sicilian culture, each mini maiolica tile is shaped from clay and painted completely freehand without the use of prints or decals; no two tiles are alike! They are 100% handcrafted by me, Mandi.
Jewelry attachment materials include Stainless Steel (stud earring backs) and 18k Gold-Plated 925 Sterling Silver necklace chains (made in Italy) - hypoallergenic & nickel-free.
A bit of background...
Terra cotta - Italian for "baked earth" - is a process of baking or partially baking clay objects to make them brittle and water-resistant. Majolica, refers to the form of ceramic earthenware made in Italy that is painted with glazing enamels before being fired.
Majolica was introduced into the Arab world sometime during the ninth century, around the time the Moors conquered Sicily. This early majolica probably reflected the Arabs' attempts to reproduce Chinese (and Mongolian) porcelain; the painted white background may have been an effort to duplicate porcelain's naturally light colour. In the Mediterranean world, the result was majolica, an art that may be said to combine the best features of both terra cotta and porcelain.