An antique, beautifully detailed, French ceramic - 34 sq ft
A small reclaimed and fully restored French ceramic dating from the early 20th century.
The floor, totalling 34 sq ft., consists of a c.5.5 inch sq principal field tile, opening up across a four tile tessellation to create exquisitely detailed motifs, and a same size single motif ceramic framing the floor. Both tiles are French, both made in Maubeuge and we include scans from the turn of the 20th century catalogues presenting the tiles as well as a randomly selected photographed section of the floor.
Colours are crisp, the design of paintbrush quality, they are ideally suited for a carpet style feature in a larger area, framed by a complimentary tile or antique parquet or in a small porch, bathroom, toilet or mudroom. The tiles can also be fixed to walls, lending themselves to be used as beautiful (and practical!) statements around woodburners, in chimney inglenooks, as kitchen spashbacks, on shower walls...
There are 105 of the principal field tiles and 57 of the framing border tiles.
Note:-
Our antique tiles were originally handmade in single or two tile molds. Pre-computer fabrication these molds were machined by hand & the colour slips to create the tile were mixed by measure and eye. When firing the tiles, the kiln temperatures of c.1,100F degrees could also be variable. The result of this production process is that tiles made during this period of non-automation often display subtle size & thickness variations and there can be tonal variations in colors, all of which add to their charm and uniqueness. When photographing a floor, we always take a random section so that it is representative of the whole in tones and patina.
A rigorous quality control during the restoration process will include in the sale any tiles with groutable small chips and edge nibbles, expected of tiles more than 100 years old, but include for free any with larger defaults as rejects, which the tiler can then use for offcuts.
Can we help?
If you can provide a technical drawing, or a simple sketch with key dimensions, we are happy to assist in evaluating and recommending the best layout of the floor in your area of choice. Click here for more details