The Victorians loved elaborate patterning and encaustic tile was a popular material for producing such patterns on floors. The method for making these tiles allows the colored clay to go nearly all the way through the tile. It is not just applied to the surface where it could be worn off. This production method was developed by British potters to recreate Gothic patterns and quickly spread to use with all Victorian era styles of architecture.
Encaustic tiles by Minton and other potters in the UK were shipped all over the globe. This example is located in the Bikaner Fort in the Great Indian Desert in northwest India. Identical tiles can be found in 19th century homes and public buildings in the United States.
Ceramic tile preservation, restoration, and replication is covered in detail in Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners. The 720-page hardcover book is now available in bookstores and from online retailers (it is currently 36% off on Amazon! http://ow.ly/N7ba50y4PSL).
Signed copies are available directly from the author on this site.
Your local bookstore can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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