A photograph of the University of Mumbai campus is used as reference to create

Having documented and studied tiles from Indo-Gothic heritage structures like the Sir David Sassoon Library, Elphinstone College, and University of Mumbai among 42 other sites over the years, Madhok reveals that one name emerges as a prominent influence — Herbert Minton. “From his manufacturing house in England’s Stoke, Minton produced tiles that were rugged, yet artistic. Making these tiles was a laborious task, but equally rewarding. These unique designs and patterns soon came to be known as Minton tiles,” she explains.

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However, the 19th century tile maker’s mastery wasn’t confined to the art of production. “Minton was probably one of the first to create a catalogue of his designs and advertise them across the erstwhile British colonies. This is how the tiles from Stoke made their way through the Cape of Good Hope, to find home in multiple structures across Bombay,” Madhok shares.

The Sir David Sassoon Library postcard from the series 

While the team has traversed Commonwealth countries like South Africa, Singapore, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand in search of tiles similar to those in Mumbai, an overlap is rare. The artist elaborates, “We found only one similar design in an old mansion in Melbourne. This is largely because the tiles were designed in a way that they could be arranged in different mathematical progressions to create novel patterns.”   

These complexities found a reflection in the process of bringing the postcards series to life, Madhok admits. “We began by photographing not only the tiles, but the corners, how the borders wrap around pillars, and how the patterns terminate and transition into different parts of the building. Back in the studio, we created rough sketches and identified the recurring patterns in the sketches, which were finally coloured in.”

The Elphinstone College postcard features a vintage bus ticket

We notice an interesting addition that breaks the perfect geometry of the artworks — a pair of feet and props in each postcard. “We imagined a story behind each of the postcards. The feet represent individuals who would typically inhabit that space,” the founder shares excitedly.

Ruchita Madhok

The Sir David Sassoon Library postcard, for instance, imagines a gentleman in loafers lounging in a chair with his favourite book. A pair of vibrant footwear and a bus ticket on the floor, on the other hand, make for a nostalgic throwback in the Elphinstone College postcard.
 
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