Large 26.6m2 / 286 sq ft. antique Boch Freres Maubege ceramic floor

An ornate period Boch Freres Maubege ceramic floor with original same size and half size border tiles, dating from the early twentieth century.

The main field tile, an ornate stylized floral design has a relief surface as the detailed photographs show. The palette is subtle and autumnal with moss green, sky blue, charcoal and biscuit present.

The same size border and half size border, laid in duplicate, offer an exquisite framing of the floor and all 4 large and 8 small border corners have been recovered. Burgundy, sky blue, biscuit, moss green and burnt red are present in the palette. 

We have included a couple of scans from the original period Boch Freres catalogue in our possession showing the original presentation of both the field tile and borders.

The main field and large border tiles are 17.2 cm sq, 18mm thick and weigh c.1.3kgs each.

A quality and heavy handmade ceramic there is some subtle variation in colour amongst the tiles.

The floor has cleaned superbly of its old mortar and years of wax to reveal a deep slip, crisp colours and a beautiful design, all expected of one of the greatest ceramic houses and pioneers of ceramic tile production in Europe.

Tile quantities, give or take one or two-

FIELD - 730 tiles  - 21m2 / 227 sq ft.

LARGE BORDERS - 95 tiles plus 4 corners - 2.9m2 / 31 sq. ft or 16.8 linear metres / 55.2 sq ft.

SMALL BORDERS - 185 tiles plus 8 corners - 2.73m2 / 23.4 sq. ft. or 32.1 linear metres / 105.4 sq. ft.

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.