How did tiles originate? A historical perspective
A tile is simply a fabricated fragment of a durable component such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass.
However, tile can also refer to comparable pieces composed of feather-weight components most likely used for wall and ceiling treatments. Some semblance of ceramic tile has been in existence for over 25,000 years. Tile, in the form we have come to know, has been in existence since circa 4700 B.C. Earliest use of tile was for roofing. For centuries, the predominant application for tile has been for the embellishment of indoor and outdoor spaces. While Islamic tile was being fine-tuned in the Middle East, the Chinese were perfecting glazes and creating designs that were emulated throughout Europe.
In Colonial America during the 1800’s, extraordinarily expensive tiles were used in the embellishments of the homes of the elite. The primary application used was the fireplace surround. This was an outward sign of personal wealth. At the turn of the century, tiles were applied in the kitchen, bathrooms, and grand foyer because tile was believed to be very sanitary. Manufacturers began building production facilities all across the globe to mass produce tile making it more affordable. In the 1950’s, the price became more affordable, Europeans used tile in other rooms of the home as well. Americans and Canadians soon followed suit. In 1980, North America became a strong market for tile manufacturers and have remained such.
Contact Carr Stone to consult with our expert sales staff or our in-house design coordinators to help you determine which tile is the best application for your project at (504) 835-8453. We are located at 3200 Andover Street in Jefferson, Louisiana. Our showroom and display area are open daily, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 4pm.
Samples are available upon request.
