1.7m2 / 18 sq ft. of Belgian Art Nouveau ceramic tiles

Reclaimed from a town house in Namur, Belgium and now fully restored and ready to relay, we present a small antique Belgian ceramic of 1.7m2 / 18 sq ft.

The tiles bear the reverse inscription rings and stamped 'M' identifying them as having been produced by Carrelages Céramiques de Chimay, Maufroid Freres & Soeur, Rue Poncet, Bourlers, Henegouwen, Belgium, who later became: S.A. La Céramique de Bourlers. Maufroid Freres et Soeur traded as such between 1879 and 1912, so the tiles were produced pre-1912. 

These antique ceramic tiles embody the very spirit of Art Nouveau design flourishing circa 1890–1910 and merging graceful natural forms with meticulous craftsmanship. Each 17cm / 6.7 inch tile showcases a central circular motif of soft blue petals encased within a lighter blue ring, reminiscent of stylized flowers often seen in nature-inspired Art Nouveau designs. Intertwining tendrils swirl across each tile in elegant arcs, rendered in both dark and light grey tones, forming dynamic vine-like structures that echo the movement of climbing plants. These sinuous lines, framed by delicate green leaf accents, evoke the organic flow characteristic of this artistic movement. The leafy embellishments and fluid symmetry mimic the seamless rhythm found in nature, transforming mere flooring into decorative art.

At the intersections of the tiles are rich, deep blue quatrefoil forms, which create a secondary visual rhythm across the tiled surface. They add balance and a jewel-like pop amid the otherwise muted, earthy tones. The overall composition emphasises nature, harmony, and hand-crafted beauty, with subtle signs of age, all adding to the authenticity and charm of these vintage pieces. These tiles are not simply functional—they’re storytelling fragments from a time when art and decoration were deeply entwined.

There are 59 tiles, totalling 1.7m2 / 18 sq ft, ideal for a small entrance porch, a toilet, or fixed to walls as a splashback or feature in a kitchen, bathroom, shower, in an Aga inglenook or chimney hearth.

NOTE Antique tiles were most commonly made in single or two tile moulds. Before current computer automation methods their moulds were made by hand and the colour slips mixed by eye. Kiln temperatures could also be variable, as could the firing time. The result is that tiles often 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.