We have a few words to say of the Persian or Arabic TILES. These have been found inlaid upon the walls of mosques and palaces and tombs in Damascus, in Cairo, in Ispahan. As far back as the palmy days of Babylon and Assyria, these enameled or glazed bricks or tiles were used to decorate the walls of their buildings; and that is about all we know. These bricks remain; for, of all the works of man, the brick is seemingly imperishable. It is also certain that upon some of these bricks or tiles is found a glaze or enamel made with the use of tin; so that what is now called _stanniferous_ enamel was known at that early day, and long before it was used in Italy by _Luca della Robbia_, who at one time was supposed to have invented it. The example here given (Fig. 63) is a very beautiful plaque, made up of many pieces, and is remarkable for the splendor of its color, rather than for any perfectness of design. It is interesting, however, as showing the dresses of the cavaliers of the Persian court. [Illustration: FIG. 63.--_Persian Plaque._] In the walls of Damascus, of Jerusalem, and of Cairo, these tiles were imbedded for ornamental and decorative purposes, and from them they have been gathered by those good people called "collectors." In Fig. 62 is an engraving of one in Mr. Prime's collection, which gives simply the lines, but wholly fails to give the magic and mystery of color which endues it with beauty. This cannot be described, nor can it be pictured; the combinations of blues are too subtile for the palette of the painter; they have been sublimated in the fiery heats of the furnace. A few of these tiles are in possession of Mr. Prime and of Mr. Wales; and a very fine collection is now in the house of Mr. Leighton, of London, of which I have spoken. He has had them imbedded in the walls of his halls, which they tinge with their peculiar and pensive light. CHAPTER VI. GLAZED POTTERY.--ITALIAN MAIOLICAS. The Word Maiolica, or Majolica.--Italian Renaissance.--The Dark Ages.--The Crusades.--The Mezza-Maiolica.--The True Maiolica.--Luca della Robbia.--Urbino.--Xanto and Fontana.--Raffaelesque Ware.--Mr. Fortnum.--Prices to-day.--Gubbio.--Maestro Giorgio.--The Lustres.--Castel-Durante.--Faenza.--The Sgraffito.--Forli, Venice, Castelli, etc.--Castellani.--Maiolicas at the Centennial. The term MAIOLICA, or _Majolica_, as has been often explained, came from the island of Majorca, whence came to Italy, in the twelfth century, some of those peculiar potteries already described under the name of _Hispano-Moresque_.