Cement Tile - History

History

Originally decorative tiles, known as encaustic tiles, were prepared from a pigmented clay base then heated or fired in a kiln. Tiles made by this method were very popular and can still be seen widely in Europe, Latin America and the US.

The mosaic tile Encaustic paving has been produced and used traditionally since the late 19th century throughout the urbanized areas of the Mediterranean: France, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), Italy, and the old European colonies of northern Africa and Latin America. Each piece is manually crafted individually, with the same technique pioneered by the Arabs over ten centuries ago which was posteriorly improved during the 19th century Following the discovery of Portland cement and development of hydraulic presses, cement tile, as we know them today is prepared without the use of clay or heating.

Cement tile appeared in the late 19th century in the south of France. Several sources say the first tiles were made near the country's first Portland cement plant. Around the turn of the 20th century, the tiles were very popular in the United States and were considered high-end floor covering. It was used in thousands of landmark public buildings and palaces. Their popularity began to wane in the U.S. sometime between the 1920s and ’30s and only started making a comeback in the 1980s and '90s.