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Tiles are a part of the fabric of our buildings, providing colour and decorative detail as well as a protective and hard wearing surface. Today, there’s a huge range of materials, shapes and styles to choose from for walls and flooring, from mosaic effect tiles to luxury natural stone or even vinyl tiles.
We may not give a lot of consideration to how we arrived at this point, but the history of tile design is a rich and interesting one that is worth delving into. Here’s a quick journey through the evolution of tile design, which is linked to the wider cultural, artistic and technological developments of society.
Archeologists have found evidence of tiles dating back to around 4000 BC in Ancient Egypt, which are made of baked clay and glazed; certainly proof of the durability of tiles. The tiles were reserved for the most important structures, including the pyramids that were tombs for Pharaohs and kings.
By 600 BC, tile making techniques were more advanced and tiles were more widely used in the fabric of buildings. New colour-fast dyes enabled the Persians to create beautiful designs in striking intense colour schemes. It was the Romans however who made the use of tiles more universal, putting them to highly decorative as well as practical use.
The Romans developed the art of using mosaic tiles to create intricate designs that were influenced by nature, mythology, or action scenes such as hunts or battles. They were also inventive in their use of materials, introducing coloured glass, stone or ceramic tiles. Roman architects and artists would often tile the entire walls, floors, and even ceilings of buildings.
The Islamic Golden Age that lasted between the 8th and 14th centuries is remarkable for many surviving examples of exquisite and complex tile designs. For religious and cultural reasons, Islamic art makes use of geometric patterns and abstract shapes rather than realistic depictions of scenes, so tile making was ideally suited to this approach.
The most talented artisans produced beautiful tilework for both the interior and exterior of buildings such as mosques, temples, and palaces, characterised by vibrant colours and captivating patterns.
The Renaissance period, which began in Italy in the 14th century and reached its height between the 1490s and the 1520s, saw a surge of new artistic and technical developments that led to a revival of detailed patterns on individual tiles and brightly coloured glazes.
The Italian majolica tiles were widely used throughout Italy and Spain; many examples can still be seen today in public places and civic buildings, as well as private homes. They are handcrafted from the unique clay that is found in the Umbrian region of Italy, which is exceptionally durable due to the unique chemical and mineral composition.
The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century saw advances in tile making technology that meant mass production was possible for the first time, and the advent of the railways and the canal network meant that they could be more widely and quickly distributed throughout the country and beyond.
Tiles became more widely used in private homes for flooring and walls, or to provide decorative details around doorways or fireplaces. New materials such as the introduction of cement allowed for a wider range of patterns, shapes and colours of tile to be produced, and designs were often intricate and eye-catching.
During the 20th century, tiles continued to evolve and also to reflect wider cultural movements such as Art Deco of the 1920s and 30s, through to the bold patterns and vivid colours that were inspired by psychedelic 1960s and 70s art.
In the early part of this century, the sleek and minimalist aesthetic dominated, with clean monochromic styles or muted colours and very restrained use, if any, of pattern and texture.
The past few years have seen further technological advancements, and it’s now possible to reiterate highly realistic tile effects that mimic natural stone or wood. There has also been a revival of vibrant colour schemes and bold designs that are often influenced by vintage styles from the Victorian era, Art Deco, or the ubiquitous pastel shades of the 1950s.
If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation, or a refresh of your exterior hardscaping, there is never a better time to choose a new tiling scheme.
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