Wall and Fireplace Tiles All our historic reproduction tiles are wall tiles not floor tiles. However, they can be used for fireplace hearths (with a solid mortar bed). The moulded Art Nouveau tiles have a high-fired vitrified tile body and are rated for interior and exterior use. All other tiles are rated for interior use only.
Historic Glaze Formulations To achieve the rich transparent glaze colours of the moulded Art Nouveau tiles, traditionally-made glazes are used. Like the originals, these tiles are inherently prone to crazing and crackling. This is not considered a defect. Some glazes craze into a network of fines lines, others into one or two lines looping across the tile surface. Some crazing may be apparent when you receive the tiles, other crazing may develop later.
Hand-made Tiles and Glazing
The moulded Art Nouveau tiles are hand-made just as they were in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The original tiles sometimes had small areas of glaze bleeding, small glaze bubbles or areas of matte glaze “sugaring”. The reproduction tiles may sometimes show these too. These are indicative of the traditional hand-made quality of these tiles and are not considered a defect.
Cobalt Blue Tiles Tiles that are transfer printed with cobalt-based glazes will exhibit the traditional “flow-blue” blurred characteristics with this type of printing.
Transfer Printed Tiles
Other tiles are "transfer-printed" which was the most common method of decorating Victorian wall tiles. The design is printed onto tissue paper, which is placed colour side down onto the tile. The colour is transferred by rubbing it down, and the paper removed. A clear glaze coat protects the transfer and imparts a gloss to the tiles.
Moulded Art Nouveau series Dark Green Tiles These tiles have a copper-based glaze that can be marked by food acids. Care with placement should be taken if these are being used in kitchens or around stove-tops.
Victorian series Dark Green Tiles
These tiles also have a copper based glaze that can be marked by food acids as well as water. They would not be suitable for kitchen, stove-top, or bathroom splashbacks.
Grouting A warm, medium-grey coloured grout often gives the best results in matching traditional fireplace grout. We do not recommend the use of the more pigmented coloured “decorator” grouts, as these can stain into the tile surface. Do not use sanded grouts, as these grouts can scratch the tile surface. Also ensure that the grouting tools and floats are free of sand from previous installations as trapped grit can also scratch the tiles.
Cleaning Do not use abrasive cleaners on these tiles, as they can mar the surface of the glazes. Other liquid or spray tile cleaners should be used sparingly and tiles rinsed or wiped clean with water.
