Royal Delft Tile Extinct Animals, Queen Cobra

Royal Delft Tile Extinct Animals, Queen Cobra.

Moooi x Royal Delft present a special collection: original Delft Blue tiles from the Extinct Animals collection by Moooi. Inspired by the enchanting illustrations from The Museum of Extinct Animals, eight unique ceramic tiles have been designed and handcrafted in the studio in Delft.

Each tile depicts an extinct animal species in fine Delft Blue and together they form an impressive and artistic collection. An ode to bygone beauty, captured in traditional craftsmanship and timeless design.

The Queen Cobra was a majestic snake named after Queen Tanjii of ancient Kemet, because of its striking, spiraling hairs that resembled the queen’s hairdo. According to ancient writings, the Queen Cobra had a golden, scaleless skin that looked as if it were made of dried grass. All the more surprising, these graceful snakes turned out to be excellent swimmers, travelling thousands of kilometres to lay their eggs on the Mediterranean Sea floor.

Humans and Queen Cobras lived in harmony. They glided quietly through villages without harming anyone, and seemed genuinely curious about their surroundings. Queen Cobras liked to climb to high places to get a good view – sometimes by nesting on the head of the tallest person nearby, as if they were a lookout post. Despite their imposing appearance, they were extremely trusting animals.

Their favourite resting place was just the opposite: as low as possible. They preferred to slumber on the banks of the Nile, where the tall grasses – which closely resembled their skin – provided them with perfect camouflage.

Although Queen Cobras trusted people, they rarely entered homes. They probably preferred open air to enclosed spaces. According to ancient pagan beliefs, pregnant women who found Queen Cobra curls by their bed in the morning were blessed with a healthy baby. Another myth held that winding tracks in the harvest indicated a bountiful harvest – for as long as five seasons.

A decorative tile in any modern interior

This tile is one of eight unique tiles from the Extinct Animals collection by Moooi x Royal Delft. The special tile, handmade in the studio in Delft, has a subtle hanging hook. This makes it easy to hang as a work of art – for example next to wall plates or other decorative elements.

Do you want to make the tile stand out even more? Then place it in a matching frame or give it a place on a mantelpiece or shelf. In this way, you not only add a story, but also a piece of artisanal elegance to your interior.

The perfect mix of heritage and contemporary art – a lasting memory of a mythical creature that invites wonder.

Dimensions 13 x 13 cm.