Character-Defining Materials ~ The Victorians loved elaborate patterning, and British Victorian encaustic tile was a popular material for producing such patterns on floors. The method for making these tiles has the colored clay 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 used during the Medieval period and then lost for centuries. 19th century British potters figured out how to recreate these long-wearing tiles and they became wildly popular.
Encaustic tiles by Minton and other potters in the UK were shipped all over the globe. This example is located in 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.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Select preservation titles by other authors, including “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester, are also available in our shop! Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book Combo Packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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