What are Victorian Tiles?

Victorian tiles are a type of ceramic tile that was popular in the Victorian era in the United Kingdom. They were usually made from glaze-covered earthenware, and featured intricate designs, often with geometric or floral motifs. Victorian tiles were often used to decorate fireplaces, hallways, and other areas of a home. They are still used today in many homes and businesses and remain popular due to their beautiful, classic and timeless design.

The History of Victorian Tiles

The tiles that we refer to today as Victorian tiles are encaustic tiles that were originally popular in the 12th century where they were found decorating monasteries, cathedrals and homes of the aristocrats. Hundreds of years later there was a revival in the style by the Victorians. The tiles were made evermore popular when a potter Herbert Minton began to produce the decorative tiles using new methods and industrial techniques. The files were made by layering different colours of clay, this resulted in a tile that had the pattern running the whole way through. However, these beautiful tiles came with a heavy price tag and could only be afforded by the very rich. Even then the tiles were found only in the areas where they would be seen by visitors, which were mainly hallways, paths, entertaining rooms and bathrooms. 

What are Traditional Victorian Tile Designs?

Traditional Victorian tile designs often feature intricate patterns with interlocking shapes and repeating motifs. Common designs include geometric shapes, florals, and architectural elements. These tiles often feature a subdued palette of colours such as navy blue, burgundy, beige, and grey. Many Victorian tiles were laid in a black-and-white checkerboard design, other popular patterns were geometric floor tiles with square, diamond, rectangle and octagonal shapes. Another favourite was the mosaic tile that had a wide range of rich colours and intricate patterns like flowers, birds, scrolls and fleur-de-lis.

How do Victorian Tiles Differ from Other Tile Types?

Victorial tiles have been known by many different names. Such as Cuban tiles, Hydraulic tiles, Encaustic tiles, and Cement tiles. True, authentic, Victorian tiles were made from ceramic made with clay and powdered glazes. Many homeowners in the current time don't categorise tiles on what they are made from but rather by the geometric patterns and other beautiful designs from the Victorian age.

So victorian tiles are definitely something unique, that can bring a fresh view with a bit of history to your house