Virgo Zodiac Tile | Iridescent

This Virgo Tile features the iconic maiden holding two flowers in her delicate hand. 

Historically, the Virgo maiden was depicted holding wheat in Pagan symbolism. The wheat imagery can be traced back to Egypt where the sun being in Virgo marked the beginning of the wheat harvest. In other pagan cultures wheat represented a fertility or harvest goddess, which brought cycles of new growth and harvest, life and death. Along with the sheaf of wheat, the maiden on this tile holds a white lily. Often, Virgo and the maiden are linked to Christianity where she is likened to Mary, mother of Christ, for her chastity and purity. Because of this connection the Virgo maiden can sometimes be seen holding a white lily symbolizing purity. Our Virgo Tile, and every tile in the Zodiac Collection, was designed and sculpted by Pewabic Designer Chris Mayse. In his words, “the inclusion of both symbols in one image represents old and the new just as the Harvest Goddess, the Virgo maiden, is likened to represent the cycles of harvest and new life.”

Pewabic co-founder Mary Chase Perry Stratton visited Europe in 1924 to gain inspiration for a large tile installation in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Visiting sacred spaces in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, Mary was inspired by the crossover of astrology and religion in ancient architecture. Throughout her career, she utilized astrological symbols in her installations in religious spaces and as decoration on vessels.

Iridescent Glaze

Many consider the Iridescent glaze to be Pewabic's most important contribution to ceramic art. Through trial, error, and sheer persistence, Mary Chase Perry Stratton developed her first successful Iridescent glaze in 1906. Establishing the formula and stabilizing the firing process took another three years. Today our Iridescent pieces are fired somewhat similarly, though with safer materials. It requires a third firing and a process called fuming, when vegetable oil is injected into the kiln to create the extraordinary one-of-a-kind effects.

• 4” x 4”

• Handcrafted in Detroit

• Individually hand-pressed in our own stoneware and glazed by Pewabic artisans

• Pewabic logo stamped on back

• Slight variations in glaze and firing results ensure each handcrafted Pewabic piece is one of a kind 

• Available in Blush Iridescent

Check out the other tiles in the Zodiac Collection