Striking Ceramic Floor with Bold Art Deco Influence

Currently in France and soon to be shipped to The French Antique Tile Company

A distinctive handmade Belgian ceramic floor extending to approximately 172 sq ft, produced by Carrelages Céramiques de Chimay, Maufroid & Soeur Bourlers, Belgium. Original catalogue scans are included within the gallery, while the reverse of the tiles still bears the maker’s characteristic Maufroid rings and central “M” stamp.

Although dating from the late 19th or early 20th century, the floor possesses a remarkably strong Art Deco character, with bold geometry, repetition and sharply defined lines more commonly associated with later 1920s design. The restrained field tile creates a calm architectural foundation, while the duplicated back-to-back borders introduce a far richer decorative rhythm, framing the floor with the confidence and symmetry of a period interior scheme.

The 6.3 inch square handmade tiles have restored beautifully following cleaning and mortar removal. The ceramics display an attractive antique patina, with occasional small edge nibbles, minor chips and some light firing lines visible on a limited number of tiles, all consistent with their age and handmade production. Six of the eight original border corners survive, while the remaining two can be recreated through mitre cuts from standard border tiles.

Tile Quantities

Field Tiles – 515 tiles – approximately 143.3 sq ft
Large Border Tiles – 106 tiles plus 2 external and 4 internal corners – approximately 31 sq ft / 29.5 linear ft*

* Linear coverage doubles if a single border arrangement is preferred instead of the original back-to-back layout.

More details are available on request.

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.

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