azuleif

   Portuguese glazed tile(s) used to decorate gardens, walls, fountains, tables, chairs, and other household furniture. The word comes from the Arabic word azuleif ("slippery" or "ornamental tile"). These tiles have a variety of glazed and painted decorations from geometric to anthropomorphic and are rectangular or square in shape. Influenced both by Arabic tiles and Dutch tiles (after 1600), the Portuguese azulejo changed its decorative motif over the centuries. While early tiles featured only geometric decoration patterns, in the 17th and 18th centuries the classic blue and white decorations that portray individuals, animals, or hunting scenes became typical. Since before the 16th century, azulejos have decorated the interior and exterior walls and furniture of Portuguese houses, palaces, villas, castles, chapels, and churches, as well as many public buildings. Next to mosaic sidewalks in towns and cities and gilt wood altars in churches, the azulejo art is the most typical Portuguese decor in all sections of the country.

    See also Architecture.