24m2+/ 260 sq ft Stunning Moorish themed floor, dated 1860, with triple borders

 A large and rare, 24m2 / 260 sq ft antique French ceramic encaustic floor complete with its original border tiles. The principal field tile and large border tile are 17.5 cm sq and there is a half size border tile 17.5cm x 8.75cm. The floor has been reclaimed from the reception room of a bourgeois house in Amiens, Picardie and the publication ‘Carreaux Industriels 1840-1940’ page 40 dates the tiles at 1860. A scan of the page from the book is below.

This is a sumptuous and rich floor; full of exquisite detailing of a Moorish influence and each handmade tile gives the impression of having been hand painted. The floor is framed by a same size larger border tile and a half size border laid in duplicate. The tessellation of the tile produces designs both by four tiles (2 separate motifs) and also 4 x 4 tiles, which create a larger circular motif. The floor has been painstakingly restored; old beaten earth on which it was laid with lime has been removed from the reverse of the tiles and their sides, and the faces have been steam cleaned to melt and remove old wax before being alkaline washed to remove ingrained dirt. The results are impressive as the high resolution photographs show. The palette is warm with burnt reds, mustards, sky blue, wheat and black present and the clay slip is deep. While some tiles display small chips and nibbles the condition of the floor is excellent; this is a heavy tile, of a good ceramic, close to 2cm thick.

Being ceramic and highly fired the floor can be laid inside or outside of the house, regardless of potential sub zero temperatures. As great distributors and retainers of heat they can also be used with under-floor heating systems without fear of cracking.