The long Italian tradition of handmade tiles marries sustainability. As they are produced today

Le handmade glazed tiles have a long history that dates back to many centuries ago, in fact the first traces date back to Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt around 4,000 BC. In these civilizations, tiles were made using clay and glazes based on minerals such as iron oxide to create wall and floor decorations.

During the Islamic period, between the 8th and 15th centuries, hand-made glazed tiles achieved great artistic development and technician. In particular, Islamic pottery in Persia, Spain and the Middle East produced glazed tiles of extraordinary beauty and complexity.

In Italy, the maximum splendor of this art reached it in the period of the Renaissance, starting from the fifteenth century, where the cities of Florence, Faenza, Deruta and other Italian locations, became famous for their production of hand-glazed tiles, often decorated with designs inspired by Renaissance painting.

Italian majolica and Dutch Delftware also became distinctive styles of hand-made glazed tiles, with decorative motifs and hand-painted landscapes.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Art Nouveau and Art Deco art movements influenced the production of handmade glazed tiles, becoming bolder in design, with geometric patterns, organic shapes and bright colors.

This type of handcrafted items have become objets d'art highly prized for their beauty, craftsmanship and individuality. They are used to decorate walls, floors, fireplaces, bathrooms and kitchens, and are considered real works of ceramic art.

Today, in addition to the artistic expression that tiles represent, we also look at their sustainability, in fact, many ceramic artisans use scraps from previous processes or recycled tiles that come from demolitions and renovations in their recipes.

The production stages of a handmade glazed tile with recycled elements involve the following stages:

- Collection and selection of recycled materials: recycled ceramic materials are collected, such as broken tiles or production waste, from sources reliable. These materials are subsequently sorted and separated to remove any impurities such as glue or varnish

- Trituration: the recycled ceramic materials undergo a process of mechanical trituration to reduce them into smaller fragments. The size of the fragments can vary according to the application and the type of tile to be produced.

- Preparation of the dough: The dough is prepared using a mixture of virgin clay and shredded recycled ceramic materials. The proportion of clay to recycled materials can be determined based on the desired characteristics of the final tiles.

- Mixing and homogenization: the ingredients are mixed together in a mechanical mixer to ensure uniform distribution of materials and obtain a homogeneous consistency of the dough. During this stage, additives or colorants may be added as needed to achieve the desired result.

- Forming of the tiles: the mix is then formed into tiles through the manual action of the tile craftsman, paying attention to the flatness, homogeneity and good result of the surfaces.

- Drying: the formed tiles are transferred to shelves or special supports and left to dry in the air or in special ovens. This drying process removes moisture and makes the tiles ready for the next firing stage.

- Firing: the dried tiles are subjected to firing in ceramic ovens at a high temperature. The firing temperature and time depend on the type of clay used and the manufacturer's specifications. During firing, the clay solidifies and the recycled ceramic material particles fuse together to form the tiles.

- Glazing and decoration: after firing, the tiles can be glazed and decorated. This stage involves applying glazes, colors or decorations to the surface of the tiles. Glaze is a blend of colored minerals and vitrifiers that give tiles their characteristic finish and colour. To prepare the glaze, the minerals are ground finely and mixed with overglazes and other additives. This process can be done manually or using specialized equipment. Glazing can be done by spray, immersion or brush.

   Spray glazing: the glaze is sprayed onto the surface of the tiles using a spraying. This method allows an even distribution of the glaze and is suitable for smooth surfaces.

   Immersion glazing: the tiles are immersed in a tank containing the liquid enamel. After soaking, the tiles are lifted off and the excess glaze is drained off. This  method is suitable for covering the entire surface of the tiles.

   Brush application: lo glaze is applied to the tile surface using a brush. This method offers more control over the amount and distribution of the glaze, and is often used for specific details or decorations.

- Drying: after the glaze has been applied, the tiles are left to dry for a period of time. The drying time depends on the type of enamel used and the environmental conditions. While drying, the glaze hardens and forms a solid layer on the tile surface.

- Second firing: after drying, the tiles undergo a second firing at a high temperature. During this firing, the glaze melts and vitrifies, forming a protective layer on the surface of the tiles. This firing is essential to fix the glaze and ensure a durable and resistant finish.

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.