8m2 classically geometric French ceramic c.1920-1930
A classically geometric French ceramic manufactured by Compagnie Francaise de Mosaique Ceramique de Maubeuge (Nord), we would date the tiles to the decade 1920 -1930. We include in the photo gallery scans from their period catalogue presenting the tiles.
In a cool palette of greys, charcoal, off white and royal blue, these handmade tiles are 14.2cm sq, 15mm thick and the 400 tiles available provide for a surface area of 8m2 / 86 sq ft.
The ceramic is in excellent condition and the tiles can be laid inside or outside of the home. There is evidence on a small number of tiles of pitting caused in the kiln when coke exploded in the heat and embedded itself into tiles yet to harden during the firing. All adding to the floors character and patina and examples can be seen in the high resolution photographs in the gallery.
The floor was laid without a border tile but options may exist in the antique border tiles category if you click 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.
CE318