Bench

The Tunisian mosaic bench is covered by a type of glazed tiles typical of northern Africa, but also common in southern Spain and Portugal. The use of patterned tiles was particularly prevalent during the period when the Muslim Moors culturally dominated the entire region around the Strait of Gibraltar, between the eighth and the fifteenth century. Tiles and other ornamental elements were filled with curvilinear, geometric or floral motifs. The extensive use of patterns in this region was linked to the so-called Aniconism, avoiding the material representation of deities or idols and opting for more symbolic or suggestive images. In the Muslim culture, this practice was prevalent but interpreted more or less literally in different periods. The Arabic word for glazed tiles is al zulay (الزليج) or zellige, which simply means “polished stone”. Both technique and nomenclature were adopted in different regions on both sides of the Mediterranean. In Portugal, the adopted word azulejo stands as a reminder of the origin of this kind of tiles, which today are considered a distinctive architectural element and a cultural icon of the country.