Tile Style

Portugal is really famous for it’s tiles, azulejo in Portuguese. According to the guidebook, one cannot say one has really been to Lisbon if one has not been to the national tile museum. Happily, I can say I have.

You can buy single tiles as souvenirs, but I could not decide which I liked best, and by the time I did, I decided my bag was too heavy for such nonessentials (although it would have made a nice trivet). All I came away with was a couple of ceramic tile pendants, which I intended to restring with beads to give as presents.

I was surprised that besides these diamond-shaped tiles there was very little to choose from by way of ceramic jewellery. These originally came strung on leather cord. I unpicked the knots and restrung the pendant with Indian bone beads and turquoise ovals. And happily, my sister Star (to whom I gave it), can say she loves it.