Terra cotta is one of the oldest man-made materials. It is found in the halls of European monasteries, as well as the floors of country houses.

The production process is simple, but with much of the work being manual, there is an individuality in each tile or brick. Clay is thrown into a mold and the surplus removed either by bare hands or with wooden scrapes or wire. The resulting draw marks are never the same on each tile. French tiles generally have a distinctive draw pattern, differing slightly from Italian or Spanish terra cotta.

Originally the molds were filled with clay and left to dry in the sun for several days. During this period, animals and birds sometimes walked across them, leaving their footprints indelibly stamped. Look carefully at the tile range and on some you will see paw prints and tilers' marks that we have reproduced to enhance the authenticity. With the addition of typical wear, each tile has its own tone and character.

The fire of the old kilns imbued the tiles with a diversity synonymous with the Latin people. The color terra cotta is derived from the distintive autumnal colors produced after firing. When clay was fired in the kiln the temperature to which it was heated determined the color. As the temperature in the kiln varied throughout its interior, so the color of the tiles varied slightly. To make clay products frost-resistant required firing at a much higher temperature. The resulting color is darker and therefore was considered to be less attractive. Our reproduction tiles give you the best of both worlds with warm rich orange, brown and beige colors in a tile that will withstand the coldest winter temperatures.