Different Kinds of Mexican Clay Floor Tile

Mexican floor tiles have a long history steeped in tradition and artistic endeavor. Mexican clay tiles are traditionally handcrafted with designs, symbols and motifs dating back to 13th-century Spain. From the Spanish town of Talavera de la Reina, the very first artisans arrived in Mexico to craft vases, plates, jars, sculptures and tiles. The distinctive style and type of Mexican clay tile called talavera was named after the town and its artisans, whose artwork showed influence from the Moors to the Chinese. In particular, the blue tones and tiles called azulejos were copied from imported Chinese ceramics. Other popular Mexican clay tiles include Alhambra, Saltillo, Potosi and clay mural tiles.

Talavera

The handcrafted talavera tile has been used for centuries in Mexican homes, churches and public buildings. Talavera tiles are earthenware squares that have been glazed with bold colors and then hand-painted. They were once seen as signs of wealth and luxury, because decorative tiles were a building expense that the general public could not afford. The rich designs and symbols incorporated into the talavera style soon blossomed into an art form and were exported all over the world.

Alhambra

The talavera tile category is broad and thus broken up into two distinct styles: classic (or traditional) and Caribbean. The classic style consists of patterns and colors that have been used since the inception of the talavera art form, and the Caribbean, or Caribe, style features symbols, colors and designs influenced by Mediterranean culture. Alhambra tiles are part of the Caribbean style, and as such have slightly rounded corners, embossed patterns and layers of colored glaze. Alhambra tiles are also slightly larger than the classic talavera tiles and the colors green, yellow, blue and brown are predominant.

Saltillo

Saltillo tile is another type of Mexican clay floor tile that is handmade, with every tile varying slightly in hue, shape, color, thickness and small imperfections. All of these inconsistencies make the individual tiles one-of-a-kind creations. The tiles are made through a long process that involves digging up earth from pits in the ground and adding water to form clay. Saltillo tiles are then shaped by pressing a frame into the clay or simply carving out the desired form. The better-known part of the process is the drying phase, where the tiles obtain their color and any chips or details like animal prints. Bird tracks or coyote paw prints found on the the tile after it has dried are considered good luck.

Potosi

Potosi tiles also have a long history in Mexico, made with technique called "pasta" that was originally formulated in Italy during the 18th century. The pasta process begins with a wet mixture of natural materials poured into a mold. Another mold for the design is then set down and clay is poured into that, with the whole thing then transferred onto a press for about a minute. The end result is a tile that on one side looks and feels like concrete, and on the other has a beautiful design. Potosi tile is also called Spanish Mission tile and is thought to be named after the Mexican town, San Luis Potosi.

Clay Mural Tiles

Clay mural tiles are most often talavera tiles that depict important aspects of Mexican tradition and history, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe, landscapes, townscapes, architecture, picturesque rural scenes and paintings done by famous Mexican artists. Every tile within the mural is hand-painted and each scene can range between 10 and 100 tiles in all, including a colored border. Another type of clay mural tile is simply one tile painted with a scene such as a man in front of a horse holding the reins, dressed in traditional Mexican clothing. These singular tiles are also known simply as decorative Mexican tiles and are used to embellish kitchens, bathrooms and floors of homes all over the world.

References

• Art and Handicrafts
• Saltillo Tiles
• Tile History

Resources

• Mexican Tile