Stunning antique ceramic floor with internal borders c.1900-1910

A quite stunning ornate French ceramic encaustic period floor using three 14cm sq tiles in a tessellation based on a repeating internal frame design.

The floor dates c.1900-1910 with the main field tile reverse-marked ‘Leon de Smet & co., Canteleu, Lille’ and the detail, warmth of the palette and exquisite fluidity of the main central four piece field tile motif are exceptional.

Indicative surface area available - c.10m2 / 110 sq ft.

Many years ago we reclaimed and restored the same Leon de Smet floor, which is now relaid in a Parisienne bathroom. To see photographs of the installation click here

Enquire for tile counts by tile type or let us know your surface area requirement.

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.