A 14.5m2 / 156 sq ft. triple border faux-mosaique ceramic - c.1895

Reclaimed, restored, and ready to relay—this Belgian ceramic floor is a remarkable survivor of turn-of-the-century design ingenuity. Dating to around 1895 and manufactured by the esteemed Compagnie Générale des Produits Céramiques in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium this floor showcases a celebrated tradition in Belgian and French tilework: the faux mosaïque style.

At first glance, the pattern evokes the intricate layout of tiny mosaic pieces—geometry rendered with precision and flair. But look closer and you'll see the cleverness: what appears to be a multi-element design is, in fact, a single large-format tile. This technique, popular in the late 19th century and especially more so in the 1920's, offered the visual richness of hand-set mosaics while streamlining production and installation. In homes, cafés, and civic buildings from Paris to Brussels, faux mosaïque floors became a mark of tasteful modernity—accessible ornamentation that retained artisanal character.

These tiles measure 15cm / 5.9 inch square and are composed of highly fired, 15mm / 0.6 inch thick ceramics The original layout includes full-size and half-size borders, with four large and six small corner pieces available. The missing two small border corners necessary to achieve their duplicate lay can easily be mitre cut from their regular borders. Their palette features subtle tonal variations, a hallmark of handmade slip mixing and variable kiln temperatures, while the design itself—drawn from the firm’s 1895 catalogue—captures the sophistication of the era’s decorative arts.

The restored floor totals c.14.5m2  / 156 sq ft. and we include in the gallery high-resolution photographs of a randomly selected 1.2 m² / 13 sq ft. section. The tiles are in excellent condition; a small number display groutable edge nibbles or minor chips and the overall effect is of a lived-in elegance—a graceful patina commensurate with their age.

Highly fired and frost-resistant, the tiles are suitable for both interior and exterior applications. Whether laid in a winter garden, a historic vestibule, or a modern minimalist living space, they bring with them not only durable beauty but a direct link to the traditions of ceramic craftsmanship that flourished in fin-de-siècle Europe.

Tile quantities by tile type:-

FIELD tiles - 515  - 11.6m2 / 125 sq ft.

LARGE BORDER tiles - 60 plus 4 corners 1.44m2 / 15.5 sq ft - 9.6 linear metres / 31.5 linear feet

SMALL BORDER tiles - 130 plus 6 corners 1.5m2 / 16.1 sq ft - 19.5 linear metres / 64 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.