A large run of 160 antique French ceramics - 1881

A large run of 160 antique ceramic border tiles providing for a lay length of over 27 metres / 89 linear feet. The design of these handmade ceramics is symmetrical, providing for the easy production of mitre-cut border corners should they be required.

These 140+ year old quality ceramics were manufactured by Carrelages Ceramiques Boch Freres, Maubeuge, France, the tiles having been presented as 'Bordure Renaissance' in their 1881 catalogue, scans of which are included in the photo gallery.

c.17cm sq these ceramics weigh c.1.4kgs each (6.7 inches and 3lbs) and lend themselves to a traditional border tile lay or as a practical, decorative feature on walls; as splashbacks, in showers, chimney breasts, aga inglenooks etc. Being a highly fired tile they can also be laid outside of the home, for example on patios or garden paths, as high summer and sub-zero winter temperatures will not present a problem. 

Owing to the large quantity available there could be the possibility to split the lot.

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.