![]() ![]() ![]() But the Crusading Christians stopped the traditional art in Spain, where now the shapes are just printed and baked onto the tiles. Having a common background, the Andalusians shared this craft with the Moroccans in the 10th Century, and today they still use the same intricate geometrical shapes. They’re hand-shaped, dried and then kiln-fired. Each tile is made with unrefined natural clay, usually from the Fes region. In this art, there’s nothing more important than the quality of the clay used. Today the Moroccan tiles are made in almost exactly the same way as they have been for the last seven centuries. ![]() Getting your zellige tiles from raw clay to your Marrakech riad’s floor is a process that is as complex as it is magnificent. Une publication partagee par Restaurant La Table du Palais How are zellige tiles made The technique remains nearly the same today. That’s when the Moroccan tiles started their legacy as a staple of Marrrakech accommodations. The ancient technique entailed drying clay bricks under the sun or baking them and then glazing them (the first were a stunning blue colour).īut it didn’t really get popular in the Middle East and Europe until the 10th Century when it spread across Andalusia and North Africa. They remain a declaration of luxury and sophistication. Maybe that’s why tiles in our homes today make us feel royal too. They may not have had running water, but you can be sure the wealthy Egyptians had beautifully decorated bathrooms.Īnd just like many of today’s beautiful bathrooms, theirs were also decorated with colourful tiles. Much like us today, the Egyptians used the tiles to decorate the interior and exterior of their homes. About 5000 years back, ancient craftsmen would shape colorful tiles out of the best clay they could find. Zellige tiles come from a primitive pottery tradition that dates all the way back to ancient Egypt. These little polished tiles (their translation literally means “little polished stone”) come from a 10th-Century tradition and are one of the major characteristics of Marrakech. In this article, we’re going to learn about their history, practice, and where you can see, buy and even make these Moroccan tiles on your next trip to Marrakech. Spot them on the walls, floors pillars, tables, pools, and fountains. Even some of Marrakech’s streets are decorated with them. When you come to the Red City, pay attention. Similar to the Spanish and Portuguese tile practice of azulejo, they are a Moroccan decor that you can see, buy, make and indulge in during your next trip to Marrakech. These handmade squares that make interior designers swoon are a long-standing tradition in Marrakesh and Morocco overall. These traditional Moroccan tiles are made with clay and water, hand-chiseled, dried and then baked. Intricate shapes cut into an explosion of colour and complex mathematical geometry. Each one unique, because they’ve been made by hand. Small, perfectly imperfect polished clay tiles that line the walls or floors. If you’re staying in a Marrakech accommodation, you’ve likely seen the ceramic jigsaw puzzle of shapes on your floor or bathroom walls. You’ve probably seen them in an interior design magazine or maybe your own kitchen. One of those that stand out in Marrakech is the craft of zellige tiles. Parallel to its ancient landscapes, it is home to deeply rooted cultural artistic traditions. It’s home to diverse natural landscapes like the phenomenally craggy Atlas Mountains, a range that connects the country to Tunisia and Algeria, beaches and waterfalls. Morocco is a beautifully diverse country in art, culture, and nature. ![]()
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