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This tin glazed earthenware tile panel consists of two nine inch tiles, surrounded by one inch border tiles. The spectacular polychrome design depicts a blue-winged dragon with a curved tail, spiked tongue and sharp claws. The bright yellow background is ornamented with green leaves and purple carnations. The vivid and unusual purple glaze was created by the addition of the metal manganese to the glaze recipe. Whilst the bright yellow ground of this tile panel is not typical of Islamic design, carnations are a motif often found on the Turkish and Persian ceramics, which De Morgan was so inspired by. In Western symbolism purple carnations denote impulsiveness and unpredictability; characteristics which one could easily ascribe to the fierce looking dragon. In this way De Morgan often mixed Eastern and Western cultures and traditions in his designs. …