Vasily N. Matveev

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Peterburg, Russia

E-mail: vmatveev88@inbox.ru

Keywords: floor decor, glazed ceramic tiles, plinth, lime mortar.

In 17 of 21 Smolensk 12th–13th century buildings floor remains were found varying in the condition of preservation. Some were found quite intact on a significant area in situ while others are represented with single findings of glazed tiles. Neither smalt, nor slate slabs were used in Smolensk buildings. In two churches sandstone slabs were found, imitating the slate. In two churches more lime mortar grouting was mainly used. The most common materials for the decoration of the floors were the plinth (thin brick) and the glazed tiles. The plinth form brick was mostly used for decorating the main area of the buildings, for example, in naos and galleries. The glazed tiles more often were found in separated compartments: choirs, apses and in some special parts of galleries. There is no great variety of shapes and dimensions of ceramic tiles of that time. The square and triangle ones prevail. Their side dimension is normally 11–12 cm, the thickness is 1.8–2.8 cm. This proportion remains unchanged, unlike plinth size, which was becoming smaller during 12th century. Besides, some figured tiles were found in Smolensk buildings of that time.

DOI: 10.31857/S086960630011574-0