Encaustic orinlaid tiles areceramictiles in which the pattern or figure on the surface is not a product of theglaze but of different colors ofclay. They are usually of two colours but a tile may be composed of as many as six. The pattern appears inlaid into the body of the tile, so that the design remains as the tile is worn down. Encaustic tiles may be glazed or unglazed and the inlay may be as shallow as1⁄8 inch (3 mm), as is often the case with "printed" encaustic tile from the latermedieval period, or as deep as1⁄4 in (6.4 mm).
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The tiles known asencaustic tiles in theVictorian period were, in themedieval period, known asinlaid tiles. The use of the wordencaustic to describe an inlaid tile of two or more colors is linguistically incorrect. The wordencaustic, from theAncient Greek:ἐγκαυστικός, means 'burning in', fromἐν,en,'in', andκαίειν,kaiein,'to burn'.[1]
The termencaustic originally described a process of painting with abeeswax-based paint that was then fixed with heat.[2] It was also applied to a process of medieval enameling. The term did not come into use when describing tile until the 19th century; supposedly, Victorians thought that the two colour tiles strongly resembled enamel work and so called them encaustic. Despite the error, the term has now been in common use for so long that it is an accepted name for inlaid tile work.
Encaustic or inlaid tiles enjoyed two periods of great popularity. The first came in the 13th century and lasted until theEnglish Reformation underHenry VIII of England in the 16th century, which eschewed and removed much medieval church decoration along with the policy of thedissolution of the monasteries.
The second period of popularity came when the tiles caught the attention of craftsmen during theGothic Revival era, who, after much trial and error, mass-produced encaustic tiles, and made them available to the general public. During both periods, tiles were made across Western Europe, though the centre of tile production was inEngland. Companies in theUnited States also made encaustic tile during theGothic Revival architecture style's period. TheAmerican Encaustic Tiling Company ofZanesville, Ohio, was active until 1935.[3] However, in the 1930s, encaustic tiling began to lose ground to more affordableglass and vitreous glass tiles.
Modern encaustic tiles use a two-shot moulding process. The 'inlay' colour is moulded first. For multiple colours, a mould with cavities for each colour is used and the individual colours are filled carefully. This coloured clay is then placed face-down in a mould that is backfilled with the body colour. The tiles are then fired.
The manufacture of encaustic clay tiles may be seen today at theJackfield Tile Museum, one of theIronbridge Gorge museums.[4]
In both the Middle Ages and in the 19th and 20th centuryGothic Revival, tiles were most often made for and laid in churches. Even tiles that were laid in private homes were often copies of those found in religious settings.[5] Encaustic tile floors exist all over Europe and North America, but are most prevalent in England where the greatest numbers of inlaid tiles were made.[citation needed]
Media related toEncaustic tiles at Wikimedia Commons