Tile art portraits of peoples in era ancestral costume or traditional dress, garb, period clothing and folkwear. Based on the works and illustrations of “The Complete Costume History” by Auguste Racinet.

Several tile art portraits inspired by the very detailed, colorful and beautiful illustrations of Auguste Racinet in his very thorough study of dress and clothing. Most of the portraits shown are from the early 19th century and cover ethnic, historical ancestry dress . The portraits provide insights into the lifestyles, status, vocations or work performed by the people of various nationalities of the era.

Each tile art portrait was hand painted by Julia on a single six inch ceramic tile. These tiles can be used or incorporated into a kitchen backsplash tile mural, fireplace, hearth surround accent tiles or anywhere decorative tiles are desired. These portraits can also be painted on glass for stained glass projects.

Northern Africa – Olive Harvester Woman…Early 19th century. Possibly Moorish, Kabyle, M’Zabite woman olive picker or harvester. Wearing typical ancestral garb of the era and for her occupation.

Northern Africa – Fig Harvester Woman…Early 19th century agricultural worker. Woman harvesting figs, dressed in typical garb of the era and for her occupation.

England – Street Vendor Woman…Early 19th century depiction of a street vendor woman of the lower class, possibly a Billingsgate fishwife. Wearing typical garb of the era and for her occupation.

England – Shrimper Woman…Lower class street vendor woman of 19th century England selling shrimp. Wearing typical garb of the era and for her occupation.

France – Gardener Woman…Possibly a woman gardener of early 19th century France dressed in traditional ethnic clothing of the era and for her occupation.

Germany – Formal Church Attire…German woman dressed for church services in her best formal attire. Interestingly, the colors a woman wore distinguished if she was of the Catholic or Protestant faith.

Germany – Woman Fruit Seller of Germany and The Tyrol…Woman selling her basket of apples. She is dressed in traditional ethnic clothing of the era and for her occupation.

Italy Mountain Woman…Possibly garb or costume of the Italian mountain dwellers or mountain people of the early 19th century.

Italy – City Woman…Possibly an early 19th century city woman of Roman, Milanese, Venetian or Naples heritage. Wearing typical ancestral garb of the era and her heritage.

Netherlands – Serving Woman Selling Eggs…Serving woman selling eggs to man in three cornered hat and long coat. Both are dressed in the typical clothing or folkwear of early 19th century Netherlands.

Netherlands – Dairymaid Selling Milk…Dairymaid woman selling milk to a customer. Dairymaid is wearing garb of the era and for her occupation. Her customer is dressed in the traditional colorful folkwear of early 19th century Netherlands.

Netherlands – Fish Seller Woman…Early 19th century fishwife selling her baskets of freshly caught fish. She is dressed in traditional ethnic Netherlands clothing of the era and for her occupation.

Persia – Household Service Woman…Early 19th century Persian household servant woman preparing to serve coffee or tea. She is dressed in the very colorful folkwear of Persian women of the era. Notice that her hands and feet are dyed henna red. This was traditional of Persian women of this period as an adornment.

Portugal – Vineyard Harvest Woman…Early 19th century Portuguese vineyard harvest or agricultural worker gathering grapes to make wine. She is wearing traditional workers clothing of the era.

Portugal – Viana Peasant Woman…Early 19th century Viana do Castelo, Portugal peasant woman dressed to the nines in very bright and colorful full ornamental costume with embroidered apron and bag. Very stunning even for our modern times.

Scotland – Highlander Dairymaid…Highlander dairymaid of early 19th century Scotland. She is wearing traditional workers clothing or folkwear of the era.

Spain – Working Peasant Woman…Early 19th century working peasant woman drawing water at well. Possibly Old Castile, Aragon, Basque or Murcia. She is wearing traditional workers clothes or folkwear of the era and her ancestry.

Spain – Galicia Working Peasant Woman…Early 19th century working peasant woman dressed in traditional era garb or folkwear. Possibly is a woman of the Galicia region.

Switzerland – Lowlands City Woman…Early 19th century Swiss woman, probably a lowlands city dweller. She is dressed in traditional clothes of the era. Interesting note: Swiss women who lived in hilly towns or countryside wore shorter skirts.

Turkey – Asiatic Turkoman Woman…Asiatic Turkoman woman attired in very fine, flowing, fabrics and ornate garb of early 19th century Turkey.

Turkey – Asiatic Turkoman Man…Asiatic Turkoman man attired in very fine, manly, ornate garb of early 19th century Turkey. The man’s belt is made up of very expensive precious metalwork.

India – Dancing Girl…Dancing girl of India in bejeweled hair, transparent skirt and colorful trousers. Dressed in the very elaborate attire of a performer.