Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Trencadís Mosaic Serpentine Bench Fragment of Park Güell by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol

2068

Catalan Modernisme, 1900–1914

A detail of the serpentine bench-balustrade of the main terrace of Park Güell in Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí and executed primarily by Josep Maria Jujol, constructed 1906–1914. Extending approximately 110 meters in a continuous undulating curve around the perimeter of the terrace, the bench is entirely surfaced in trencadís — shattered and irregularly pressed fragments of glazed ceramic, smashed earthenware, and recycled bottle glass assembled in an improvised mosaic. The color fields shift gradually along the bench's length, passing through warm ochres, terracotta reds, cobalt blues, viridian greens, and creamy whites, with no repeating compositional unit. The seat surface is ergonomically profiled with a concave body mold. The varied protrusion, angular fractures, and uneven glaze surfaces of individual tile fragments create an intensely textured surface that catches light at multiple angles simultaneously.