10m2 / 107 sq. ft antique floral themed Societe Amay ceramic

A most unusual, impressive and unique period Belgian floor, that we have been delighted to reclaim and restore.

Manufactured in the early twentieth century by Societe Anonyme AMAY, Belgique, we include in the photo gallery some scans of the tile from their original catalogue.

This ceramic encaustic floor consists of a principal field tile and same size border tiles, which can be laid singularly or back to back, as shown in the photographs, and for which all four internal and four external corner tiles are present and correct.

The surface area of the floor is c.10m2+ / 107 sq. ft+ *

Both the principal field tiles and large borders are 14cm sq.

The design is strongly vegetal; a popular theme in the early twentieth century and in this instance embracing thistle leaves on the principal field tile and trailing daisies on the borders. Within the main part of the floor a circular motif opens up across four tiles, linking the thistle themed tessellation. We think the vegetal theme and palette lend themselves perfectly to relaying the floor in a room linking home with garden. Optionally the floor can be laid outside on a garden path, in a conservatory or summer house.

Arriving ready to relay, the condition of these 15mm thick tiles is excellent; there are occasional small chips and edge nibbles on a small number of tiles, all grout-able, but each tile has been individually quality controlled both during the removal of the old mortar, grout, surface dirt and waxes during the restoration process. The high resolution photographs are a randomly selected section of c.1.5m2 / 15 sq. ft of the total floor.

Being a highly fired tile they can be laid inside or outside of the home and the tiles will also work very efficiently with underfloor heating systems.

Tile quantities, give or take one or two:-

FIELD tiles -  380 tiles – 7.45m2 /  80 sq. ft

LARGE BORDER tiles - 121 tiles (plus 8 corners) – 2.5m2 /  26.9 sq.ft or 17.5 linear metres or  57.4 linear ft*

* Halve the linear lengths for a back to back lay, as shown in the photographs

* NOTE:- We have another floor available from the same manufacturer and having the same main field tile. This provides the opportunity to merge the two floors to create a larger area. The floor can be seen by clicking here ​

NOTE:-
Antique tiles were most commonly made in single or two tile moulds. Before current computer automation methods their moulds were made my hand and the colour slips mixed by eye. Kiln temperatures could also be variable, as could the firing time. The result is that often tiles display subtle size and thickness variations and there can be tonal variations in colours, owing to the slip mixing and/or firing time. All of this makes these handmade tiles unique and adds to their charm. Some floors display their subtle variations in size and tones, some not, but when photographing we always take a random section of the floor so that it is representative of the whole. A tiler should always dry lay a section of the tiles to familiarise himself with them before starting to fix lay.