The tiles were primarily imported from Japan for the wealthy Taiwanese merchant class during the Japanese colonial period.
The museum founder spent over two decades traveling across Taiwan to personally rescue tiles from houses being torn down.
Many of the tiles incorporate 'lucky' motifs such as fruits, flowers, and animals intended to bring prosperity to the household.
The museum conducts a rigorous cleaning and restoration process to stabilize tiles that have been exposed to the elements for decades.
The collection includes rare examples of 'Majolica' tiles, which were inspired by Victorian era designs popular in Britain.
The facility is housed within a renovated historic residence that maintains the original wooden structure of a typical Japanese-era home.
The Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles is a specialized cultural institution dedicated to the preservation of majolica tiles produced between the 1920s and 1940s. Housed in a restored historic Japanese-style wooden building in Chiayi, the museum features a collection of thousands of vintage decorative tiles salvaged from traditional houses slated for demolition. The facility serves as both a showroom and a research center for studying the architectural history and manufacturing techniques of these tiles. Exhibits categorize the tiles by pattern, origin, and the cultural symbolism depicted in their designs. Visitors can observe the intricate detail and glazes characteristic of the period, which reflect a blend of Japanese, European, and local Taiwanese artistic influences. The institution actively engages in restoration efforts to prevent the total loss of these ceramic artifacts. Educational displays explain how these tiles were historically used on the eaves and façades of wealthy merchant homes to signify status. The collection is one of the few global repositories focused exclusively on this specific medium of architectural decoration.
The central display walls featuring high-density arrangements of diverse, colorful vintage tile patterns.
Engage with the museum staff, who are often passionate researchers willing to explain the history behind specific tile patterns.
Take time to examine the tile coasters and merchandise, which use authentic archival designs from the collection.
Check for temporary exhibitions that often focus on specific regional tile styles or historical timeframes.
Do not assume all displayed tiles are for sale; most of the antique pieces are strictly part of the permanent collection.
Closed on Mondays.
Please handle delicate items with care and avoid touching the wall-mounted antique displays.
