c.13.5m2 Maufroid Freres et Soeur ceramic with double borders
A triple border ceramic encaustic floor between 111 years and 144 years old in a cool palette, offering up a beautiful and fluid design in its four tile tessellation.
Total surface area - 13.5m2 / 145 sq ft
Country of Origin - Belgium
Manufacturer - Carrelages Céramiques de Chimay, Maufroid & Soeur, Rue Poncet, Bourlers, Henegouwen, Belgium, who later became: S.A. La Céramique de Bourlers (ancienne usine Maufroid). Maufroid Freres et Soeur traded as such between 1879 and 1912 and the tiles display on their reverse the Maufroid rings and centralised 'M'.
Dating - 1879 - 1912
Tile size - 16cm / 6.3 inches
Tile thickness - +/- 14mm / 0.55 inch
Weight per tile - 850g / 30 ounces
Border lay - Same size back to back borders
Border corner tiles - 3 internal*
*Mitred corners can be cut by your tiler from the regular borders. We have included a simulation in the gallery to show how they will look
Underfloor heating systems - Yes
Indoor / Outdoor application - Both
Fixed to walls or inside showers - Yes, with the correct cements and grouts
Tile quantities:-
Field tiles - 420 - 10.75m2 / 116 sq ft.
Large borders - 100 plus 3 corner tiles* - 2.6m2 / 28 sq ft. or 16.5 linear metres / 54 linear ft.
Tile size, thickness and tones
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.
Condition
All of our floors go through rigorous quality control during the restoration process. We include tiles which have groutable small chips and edge nibbles, expected of tiles more than 100 years old , but include for free any rejects, which the tiler can then use for offcuts. The photographs in the gallery are of a c.1.5m2 / 16 sq ft.randomly taken sample of the larger floor and therefore representative of the whole floors condition and patina.
Can we help?
If you can provide a technical drawing, or a simple sketch with key dimensions, we are happy to assist in evaluating and recommending the best layout of the floor in your area of choice..
CL189