Historically, man has desired to create living spaces, which were beautiful, durable, and user friendly. Although it is largely assumed that early man used certain types of stone and wood as durable coverings over shelters, the historical record proves man has made certain types of ceramic tile for over 4000 years. Beautiful tiled surfaces have been found in the oldest pyramids, the ruins of Babylon, and ancient ruins of Grecian cities.

Decorative tile work was invented in the near east, where it has enjoyed a longer popularity and assumed a greater variety of design than anywhere in the world. During the Islamic period, all methods of tile decoration were brought to perfection in Persia.

In Europe, decorated tiles did not come into general use outside Moorish Spain until the second half of the 12th century. The tile mosaics of Spain and Portugal, the Majolica floor tiles of Renaissance Italy, the Faiences of Antwerp, the development of tile iconography in England and in the Netherlands, and the ceramic tiles of Germany are all prominent landmarks in the history of ceramic tile.

The technique of tile and its secrets of trade were safely guarded and orally handed down from father to son and master to student; thus rarely have designs, patterns and details of technique been documented. Few complete treatises exist on the art of tile work in the past. Each tile was hand-formed and hand-painted, thus each was a work of art in its own right.

We know that from the earliest known records, tile was used as both an art form and as a durable building material. Down through the centuries artisans in both applications have created amazing works using a myriad of designs, materials, and form.

And so it continues, with the turn of the 21st century seeing more advancement in material composition and leading edge design implementations than ever before. Tile has proved to be as beautiful and versatile as it is timeless.

Glazed bricks relief tile wall, the Ishtar gate at Babylon, circa 575 B.C.

Glazed bricks relief tile wall, from the palace of Persepolis circa 518 B.C.