Large 24m2+ triple border French ceramic - beautiful patina

A large and rare handmade French ceramic encaustic floor of +/- 17.2 cm sq field tiles, +/- 17.2cm border tiles and +/- 17.2cm x 8.5cm half size border tiles, laid in duplicate. 

The principal field tile offers up a four tile tessellated motif, framed by a vine themed large border and latticed half sized border.

Totalling 24m2+ / 258 sq ft.+ and reverse stamped BOCH FRERES, MAUBEUGE, these ceramics were manufactured by Carrelages Ceramiques de Boch Freres, Maubeuge (NORD) in the late 19th or early twentieth century and we include in the photo gallery scans from their catalogue showing the tiles. The design of the tiles also appear in an earlier Villeroy & Boch, Mettlach catalogue dated 1886. 

Handmade ceramics, there are tonal variations in the tiles, demonstrable in the photographs of a random section of the floor, creating a rich and unique antique patina. 

Total surface area - 24m2+ / 258 sq ft+

Country of Origin - France

Manufacturer - Carrelages Ceramiques Boch Freres, Maubeuge (NORD)

Dating -  Late 19th, early 20th century

Tile size - +/- 17.2 cm field, +/- 17cm large borders, +/- 17cm x 8.5cm half sized borders. Corner tiles present.

Tile thickness - variable but generally +/- 16mm

Weight per tile - 1.3kg / 46 ounces

Border lay - Same size border framed top and bottom by half sized boder

Underfloor heating systems - Yes

Indoor / Outdoor application - Both

Tile quantities:-

Field tiles - 675 - 20.6 m2 / 222 sq ft.

Large border  - 59 plus 4 corners 1.86 m2 / 20 sq ft. or 10.8 linear metres / 35.4 linear feet 

Half size border  - 125 plus 8 corners 1.88 m2 / 20.2 sq ft. or 22.2 linear metres / 72.8 linear feet

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..