Alicatados

Decorations composed of mosaics formed of polygonal, colored glazed tiles in designs of geometric patterns. They have been used mostly for paving Spanish and Moorish patios, but also for wall surfaces. The expansion of the lands under Christian control in Spain in the 13th century led to a mixture of Gothic and Islamic styles evident in alticatados. Alicatados were superceded by mosaics composed of uniform tiles in the 14th century; by the 15th century alicatados were primarily used to surround tilework. The term is Spanish and means 'cut work.'