Encaustic tile
Encaustic or inlaid tiles are
History
The tiles known as 'encaustic tiles' in the
The term encaustic originally described a process of painting with a beeswax-based paint that was then fixed with heat.[2] It was also applied to a process of medieval enameling. The term did not come into use when describing tile until the 19th century; supposedly, Victorians thought that the two colour tiles strongly resembled enamel work and so called them encaustic. Despite the error, the term has now been in common use for so long that it is an accepted name for inlaid tile work.
Encaustic or inlaid tiles enjoyed two periods of great popularity. The first came in the 13th century and lasted until the
The second period of popularity came when the tiles caught the attention of craftsmen during the
Manufacture
Modern encaustic tiles use a two-shot moulding process. The 'inlay' colour is moulded first. For multiple colours, a mould with cavities for each colour is used and the individual colours are filled carefully. This coloured clay is then placed face-down in a mould that is backfilled with the body colour. The tiles are then fired.
The manufacture of encaustic clay tiles may be seen today at the Jackfield Tile Museum, one of the Ironbridge Gorge museums.[4]
Use
In both the Middle Ages and in the 19th and 20th century
See also
- Cement tile
- Jackfield Tile Museum – Museum of ceramic tile making, part of the Ironbridge Gorge
- American Encaustic Tiling Company
References
- ^ "Encaustic – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". merriam-webster.com. 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ "what is encaustic ? encaustic.co – home page". encaustic.co. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ a b "tileheritage.org". 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ "Jackfield Tile Museum". Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
- ^ "Inform Guide – Ceramic Tiled Flooring – informguide-ceramicfloor.pdf" (PDF). pdf.js. 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
Bibliography
- Haberly, Loyd Mediaeval English Pavingtiles 1937