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Since ancient times, tile has been used for both construction and decorative purposes. It’s been an essential component throughout the history of building and design.

As early as 4000 BC, glazed tiles were used for decoration in Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia. From China and the Far East, to the Near East and throughout Europe, tile became a prominent art form as well as a beautiful and durable building material.

Tile fabrication methods and patterns have long had meaning to different regions of the world, and varied designs from different countries are now easily recognizable. Consider for example Delft from the Netherlands, Majolica from Italy, or Mexico’s intricate, decorative Talavera tiles. In each region, fabrication and decorative techniques have been carefully guarded and passed down through generations.

While handmade tile is still available, machine-made tile dominates the industry today. With the wide range of tile types available, guides and ratings for porcelain versus non-porcelain ceramic and natural stone tiles can be very helpful and informative, for both designers and consumers alike. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) website offers an an excellent summary for the beginner.

Knowledge about different grout types and applications is critical, and can help one avoid last minute confusion that arises all too often during installations. Grout can be a blended background color that allows the tile to shine, or it can become part of the overall design, creating a pronounced grid and strong graphic effect. The Tile Doctor website is an excellent resource for learning about installation techniques such as surface preparation, joint types, and grout types and uses for flooring, shower and bath, countertops, and more.

From natural materials to high-tech innovations in tile, the range of options has expanded greatly in recent years. Glass tile, metal tile, tumbled natural stone tile, and even light-emitting tiles have all hit the market and are widely popular today. Mixing and matching different tile types has become popular recently. One such example involves the incorporation of metal tiles in stone or other natural tile designs.

The huge assortment of tile types and materials available today enables designers and their clients to create unique and personalized bathrooms, kitchens, sunrooms, floor designs, and more while carrying on the tradition begun many thousands of years ago.

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The Barcelona cement floor tile may be installed in all indoors residential and commercial vertical and horizontal applications, such as floors, walls, back splashes, and counters in lobbies, main entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Outdoor vertical and horizontal applications of the Barcelona mosaic cement tile are subject to climate, and must be sealed with a high quality penetrating sealer containing U.V. protection. The U.V. protection will help the tile preserve its color and natural patina.

Note: These tiles are not frost proof.

To install in an outdoor or indoors swimming pool use a high quality penetrating sealer with U.V. protection; and additionally apply a acrylic concrete surface sealer on top.

Click here to get more information on talavera pottery.

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Click here to get more information on talavera tile mexico.

tierrayfuego.com

ince its inception in the 1800s mosaic cement floor tiles have provided an unsurpassed living experience, embellishing mansions, palaces, temples, and important public buildings throughout Europe and America. World-renowned architects and designers have made use of hydraulic cement floor tile in many of their master architectural works. Antoni Gaudí one the greatest Spanish architects of all time, utilized them extensively on several of his commissioned projects.

Tierra y Fuego is proud to showcase and offer encaustic cement floor tiles as an exquisite, and functional element of architecture. Our master artisans with decades of experience in the art of making floor tiles use the best natural materials to create handcrafted cement floor tiles of exceptional quality.

In the early 20th Century, there was a rapid expansion in the use of mosaic cement tiles. Historians attribute the popularity to the Art Nouveau style of architecture, which is characterized by highly stylized, flowing curvilinear designs that often incorporate floral and other plant-inspired motifs. Europe was the central stage for the adoption of cement floor tiles. Later the tiles were introduced to Latin America, and the United States during the Spanish Revival Architectural Period of the 1920s and 1930s that took place in California.

The test of time has proven that encaustic cement floor tiles have an everlasting impression. Mosaic cement tiles can be found in many parts of Europe, particularly in France and Spain. For instance, Gaudí’s private home in Barcelona is fully covered with cement floor tiles. In many of his works, Gaudí uses handcrafted cement tile as an important element of functionality and beauty. Casa Batlló, built between the years of 1904 and 1906, has cement floor tiles decorating many of its rooms, passageways, and terraces. This unique house is now a historic landmark in Barcelona, located in Pasaig de Gracia.

References of the embracement of hydraulic cement floor tiles, also referred as Victorian encaustic tiles, are also found in American historic states in California. The Kamins House in Beverly Hills displays handcrafted cement tiles in an open-air living room adjacent to the dinning terrace. Simultaneously, this element of architecture was also well adopted in Latin America. The floor tiles can be seen in many haciendas and churches throughout Mexico. They can be found as far away as Rio de Janeiro in Brazilian villas.

During the 1960s, the industrialization of mass-produced tiles and their accessibility to the markets almost caused the disappearance of the use and making of mosaic cement floor tiles. However, the timeless appeal of these tiles is once again gaining prominence. In recent years, some construction companies, interior designers, architects, and homeowners have found a particular interest of incorporating this high quality artwork into their projects. Because of the versatility of cement tiles, they are being used in classic, as well as contemporary, and modernist settings.

Click here to get more information on talavera pottery.

Click here to get more information on talavera pottery mexico.

Click here to get more information on talavera tile.

Click here to get more information on talavera tile mexico.