A run of 70+ faux mosaic themed ceramic border tiles

A run of antique Belgian ceramic encaustic border tiles

14.3cm sq, +/-15mm thick

Faux mosaic in design and in a warm palette they were manufactured by Cermiques Nationale Forges, Forges-les-Chimayin the early part of the 20th century. The tiles are reverse stamped ‘F’

Potential applications include kitchen counter runs, splashbacks, decorative features in chimney breasts, inglenooks, inside showers or as a traditional frame for an antique or modern ceramic or parquet

As was traditional in France and Belgium during this period, they can also be used as plinths i.e. instead of skirting boards

70+ tiles, 10.5 linear metes / 34.4 linear feet.

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.