Medieval; Fourteenth Century Inlaid Floor Tile; ‘Sol In Ariete’ ~ Nottingham School of Tilers.

Medieval; Fourteenth Century Inlaid Floor Tile;
‘Sol In Ariete’ ~ Nottingham School of Tilers.

This wonderful tile depicts a rare design attributed to the Nottingham school of tilers. Known for their idiosyncratic use of text; this example seemingly composes a jumble of Lombardic letters with a figure of a ram.

In fact, the inlaid inscription reads;
SOL IN ARIETE MARCIV
This translates as ‘Sun in Aries; March’

The reading of this tile design is one linked to astrology and the ecclesiastical world. The ram; the symbol of the zodiac sign Aries is assigned to the month of March. This also being the beginning of the Medieval calendar, the season of spring, and indeed the feast of the annunciation.

Elizabeth Eames records fragments of this tile design which were found at Lenton Priory, Nottinghamshire.