Delftware in Traditional Moroccan Architecture: Uses and Meanings

Abstract

It is quite rare to find European earthenware tiles in old buildings in Morocco. Those of Delft in particular arouse major interest; they are found only in mausoleums. Fez city, a historical centre of mysticism, has kept some very well-preserved witnesses. In this article, which focuses on the archaeology of decoration, a little-exploited domain, we will try to retrace the route of this earthenware, define its multiple uses and propose an interpretation of its historical meanings. We hope that this research will contribute to enlighten certain facets of the Moroccan-Dutch historical relations.