"Tenuvat HaAretz", four painted ceramic tiles. [Israel, late 1950s / early 1960s]. Unknown artist.
Four painted ceramic tiles, on a wooden board. Signed: Handmade in Israel (on the wooden frame).
Fine colorful illustrations portraying two women workers in a beautiful field, one holding a basket with oranges and the other a pickaxe. Mountains, trees and houses with red roofs are seen in the background. The inscription "Tenuvat HaAretz" appears on the lower part.
Illustrations on the tiles were inspired by illustrations on banknotes issued by the Bank of Israel, designed by Shamir Brothers and Jacob Zim. The woman's figure on the left bears resemblance to the soldier seen on the half a Lira banknote, while the woman on the right stands in almost the same position as the worker appearing on the five Lirot banknote (hammer on her left shoulder while the worker holds it on his right shoulder. They face different directions); her face and hat resemble those of the pioneer appearing on the fifty Lirot banknote.
Four tiles: 19X19 cm each. Mounted on a wooden board, with wooden frame (not examined out of frame). The board (including the frame): 42X40.5 cm. Good condition.