remarkable turn of the century victorian era majolica green glazed portrait tile designed by george cartlidge. the richly colored ceramic fireplace tile features a costumed woman holding a jug or vessel. sporadic crazing and light surface wear evident. manufactured by the sherwin & cotton company, hanley england. the sherwin and cotton company operated in hanley, england from 1877 to 1930. during this time they made a wide range of stylistic tiles, with some of the most unique and well-executed designed by george cartlidge, whowas a fundamental figure in the design revolutions of aesthetic and art nouveau during the late victorian and edwardian eras. george cartlidge is best known for his portrait tiles, finely modeled works in the most amazing translucent glazes, many all indented molding creating a near holographic effect as the surface is almost flat yet the image three dimensional. cartlidge was employed at sherwin & cotton between 1882-1900, and rendered tiles in a nearly photographic process known as "emaux ombrants". this is a style in which the design is modeled in intaglio and tinted glaze is poured in to a level with the surface. the different thicknesses of glaze produce the lights and shades of a picture, on the principle of lithophanes. during the firing process the tiles must remain level for the molten glaze to cover the tile correctly. when sherwin & cotton was restructured in 1911, cartlidge became a partner in a new company known as adams & cartlidge. after the company failed during the war years, he took his patterns and skills to j.h. barratt before leaving the tile industry to make pottery designs in the form of his notable "morrisware." the antique victorian portrait tile measures 12 x 6 inches.