Tile Picture - Anyone recognize artist? Is it valuable?

This is a thrift store purchase and I'd like to know something about it - are the tiles old? Does anyone recognize the artist? And then it's value - just a pretty tile picture? The tile picture is framed beautifully - the blue lining part next to the tiles is a fabric material and the back side has two bumpers. The tiles are just shy of being 6" tall. Wide? 5 1/3"? The part of the tiles that show, going up and down totals about 17" tall. The framed picture is 20" x 8 1/2". Any information would be very appreciated. Thanks!

 

Spanish souvenir by the look of it. @Debora

 

Thanks for tagging me. The signature appears to read "Esmeralda" which makes Spain a more-than-likely possibility. (But haven't we seen this item before?)

Debora

 

It's not going to be terribly old. And value would be decorative. But it's attractive, isn't it? And frame attractive too.

Debora

 

Don't have a clue as to what "H.F." stands for. The letter H is in the Spanish alphabet but it's not used very much.

Debora

 

Reminds me of the Deruta tiles - contemporary.

 

On reflection... I'd think perhaps H.F. the first initials of Esmeralda's surnames.

Debora

 

Could the H stand for Hecho? (made)

 

Um... I wouldn't think so. Hecho en or Hecho a is typically seen on the back of pieces. But that brings up a good point. Could/would you post a photograph of the back?

Debora

 

It is framed with two bumpers, the tag says Bradshaw Frame & Gallery - 2 cities - Wilsonville & Portland, OR. The price has been rubbed off.
I've been trying to find out about this for sometime. Long ago there was a suggestion that the word Ka could refer to a religious sect as used by some artists. That the letters H.F. are a different shade of blue and could have been added later? That H.F. could refer to an artist society or group? Maybe it is from Turkey? But no clue to the artist's name.
Does this help any?

 

"Ka" is the letters l-d-a. As I posted above, in my opinion your piece is most likely Spanish, painted by an Esmeralda H.F. It has no religious imagery. A quick internet search brings up many similar from Spain as an urn with flowers is a not uncommon tile motif there.

If you posted a close-up photograph of the framer's label, we might be able to get closer to dating it. But it's certainly no older than the last few decades. Given that value is decorative, the most important thing is you think it's pretty (as I do) and enjoy it.

Debora

 

Debora: Can you read this? It really is framed lovely. You are getting me to look at it closer - just noticed that it has fruit - little oranges, maybe loquats or? The gold is either worn or made to look like that. You are right in the theme - similar. The ones pictured are smaller tiles - does that make a difference in country of origin?

 

Agree it does look Spanish/Iberian - you see a lot of this kind of item along the Algarve too.

 

The examples I posted are what are called tile "murals." They're used for both interior and exterior decoration in Spain. The individual tile sizes are likely similar.

The fruit looks like citrus -- oranges, lemons and loquats would be a good guess as nísperos are very popular in Spain. The bulbous fruit would be, I'd think, guava which is also very popular in Spain.

The framer has closed the business but, according to this article, they opened under that name around 1995 which is consistent with the date of your piece.

https://cedarmillnews.com/legacy/1113/Bradshaw.html

Debora

 

Portuguese tiles are more often blue and white, and more casually painted if that makes sense.

The fat fruits could also be melocoton, si?

 

Portuguese tile generally have a bit more movement (for lack of a better description) as it's influence by Asian art.

Debora