16m2 / 172 sq ft Belgian St. Ghislain ceramic encaustic floor with double borders

16m2 ceramic encaustic floor c.1900, produced by the period ceramic house of S.A de Carrelages, St Ghislain in the Henegouwen region of Belgium. The principal field tiles are 15.2cm sq and are stamped ‘St G’.

The floor has been reclaimed from a pair or rooms in a fine house in Charleroi, Belgium and is complete with its original double border tiles, one full size of 15cm sq, and one half size of 15cm x 7.5cm.

The style is rich and contradictory embracing both a fluid vegetal themed motif and a classic ‘links within links’ design. The level of detail on both a single tile and the final tessellation of the floor is remarkable. The restored colours, having had years of old dirt, cement and wax professionally removed are autumnal with burnt orange, dark red, leaf green and mustards present on fonds of sky blue and white. Physical proof that they really do not make them like they used to; this is a quality heavy tile of exquisite design and of rich slip colouring good for the next hundred years….

Tile quantities (give or take one or two):-

Field tiles – 603 tiles - 13.6m2

Large border tiles – 39 tiles - 0.87m2 or 5.6 linear metres / 19 linear feet

Small border tiles – 130 tiles - 1.5m2 or 19.5 linear metres / 64 linear feet