Tile? Origin & century?

WOW.....how could anyone tell anything a bout that baked dirt...?
I'll be watching..........

 

How big is it?
Just a guess, a flower pot? Drainage hole in the side instead of the base, some plants need wet 'feet'. Traces of glaze on the bottom for the same reason?

 

Hello! Nice to see you again! it is 100% tile for oven, something german-style i believe, that came later to ost europe. That are only assumptions. Dimensions square 12.5 x 13 cm and back radius 9.5 cm.

 

Hello Paul, welcome back.
In the oven, maybe in a hearth? Something to do with charcoal?
Then again, nothing is charred. There are mineral salts on the outside, the inside looks very clean.

Central Europe had something called a "Kachelofen", a heating system with a fairly closed hearth, tiles on the outside, which was built in the centre of a house. Several rooms were built around the Kachelofen, so you could see a part of it in the corners of the rooms that were connected to the system:


Maybe your mystery object had something to do with this.

 

I have pictures, legend says that they are around 15th century, but you see - they are quite different and we do not see back construction..
So.. still no idea what is that

 

@Any Jewelry

I truly appreciate hearing how you break things down. Your analysis.

 

is the bottom the top?
i'm at a loss here..............

 

How fascinating. To me it looks very utilitarian, very functional. Not decorative at all. I just don't see enough residual glaze, except on the base, and why is that? Could it possibly be something to do with drainage or guttering? The large hole could be for a down pipe, the smaller to redirect water elsewhere? Or wine, or juice or ??? I am also drawn to agricultural uses like a water trough. It could be a verandah post holder or could sit on top of something. I'm at a loss to understand the glaze on the bottom. But then I'm a bit of an idiot before my morning coffee.

 

Yes, in some threads you can almost hear me thinking. This one is certainly challenging 'the little grey cells'.

 

If it is something to do with an oven or a hearth, the bottom could be the top or the side.

I started out thinking it could be for oil, with a wooden tap thingie in the small hole. Square shape of the base like you see in some Persian water vessels.

Don't worry, I am a bit of an idiot most of the time, but especially so in the mornings. And my typing is all over the keyboard, so I have to correct just about every word. (Or every nerd.)

 

Black espresso straight up this morning, so brain should be working. It's the glazing on the base that intrigues me. Why glaze there, when the rest of the object is unglazed and so basic. Even inside is not finished well. I guess its use will explain all. I also like the idea off a wooden plug in the small hole, but how would that work? How would you pour if it it was the other way up and could see the glaze? Also, the inside seems very clean. No oil residue or staining from a liquid e.g. red wine. Ill have to think about that over a glass of red wine.

 

Just over a year ago, I was in Romania on a mission trip and stayed in 2 homes that were heated with these! Amazing!

 

may I ask.....how ?

 

There is a fire box low in the structure with a door. Just a few pieces of wood burning in it heats the tiles which radiate to the room. One night the fire was out probably halfway through the night but the tiles remained hot until early morning. It was in March, temps were down to freezing at night. I know this because I had to go out to the barn in the night to use the outhouse. This old lady wore her jeans under her nightgown and coat over all that! It was quite an experience!

 

The Germans are now reviving the system to save energy. This is a modern example which has a fireplace look without the problems of an open fire:

 

http://www.polish-energy.com/default_005.html
If you go down the page to “Tiled Masonry Heaters” &“where do they come from” it seems similar to bowl and pot tile (except no hole)
It also says sparsely decorated and glazed only on 1 side.
This shows a hole in one of the pots.

I would think you may have some version of this, and I could not guess as to the age. Maybe further research ‘Pot and bowl tiles’

 

Wow, HT, what a great piece of research. Congratulations and thoroughly fascinating article. How inventive we humans are when it comes to things like building fire into a wall to heat the house. Thanks so much for solving the riddle. You get the Sherlock Holmes Star of the week.

 

I hope this is correct. I wish I could find other pictures showing the glazed side.
And Thank you.

 

It looks correct to me, great research!
So a hot pot-style tile made anytime between the Middle Ages and the early 19th century. The date would be narrowed down if Paul knows where it was found.