Pair of tiles with a crane

Pair of arista (ridged) ceiling tiles with motifs of interlaced branches forming quatrilobed medaillions among plant motifs. In the centre, a crane with a band containing text. Blue, green and honey colours on a white background.

The arista tile simplified the tile manufacturing process through the application of a mould that mechanically imprinted the relief on clay. This meant increased production and lower costs. This process had already been tried with grooved dry cord since the relief produced by the imprint was sometimes so pronounced that it was not necessary to use manganese. The production of arista tiles seems to have begun at the end of the 15th century, although there are older pieces. It represented a huge increase in productivity favoured by the speed of execution. The tiles were used for both floors and ceilings, and, especially, plinths.

The use of ceramic pieces to decorate beamed ceilings, known as ceiling tiles, has its precedent in the Visigothic unglazed relief bricks. From the 14th century, they were usually decorated using the arista process or with motifs in relief, with two narrow bands left on their smaller ends that were either smooth or herringbone reliefs for supporting on the beams. The variety of motifs that can be identified is immense: geometric patterns are combined with plant elements or used as a frame for emblems for names, saints' attributes or simple animals.

In this example, it represents a crane and tells the tale that, when these animals sleep in groups, one of them keeps watch while holding a stone in one of its feet which would make a noise when dropped should the crane fall asleep. The banner in its beak with the text "vigilantibus" alludes to the mission entrusted to it. The animal therefore acquired an allegorical-didactic character and became a metaphor for the good Christian.