Moroccan tiles, known as Zellige, Bejmat and Platta. Who does not know them? These tiles are still made by hand in Morocco, as they have been for centuries. This Moroccan art form can be found in the streets and buildings of Morocco where the walls are often covered from top to bottom with these geometric patterns in the most beautiful colours. Each shape is cut by hand from a 10x10 format.
For the European market, this square shape is the most popular. The Bejmat is the "brick", a tile that can be used on the floor. Think of the beautiful deep green tiles with which the courtyards in Morocco are covered. The Platta tile is exclusive to Designtegels. A mix of the different forms of Zellige with the option that they could be used on the floor, like the Bejmat. The Platta has the same beautiful colours as the Bejmat and Zellige.
1. Moroccan tiles are made in Fez, Morocco. This city is known for its perfect clay! The clay is collected, mixed with water and mixed well.
2. The clay is pressed into moulds so that they take the right shape and are dried in the sun. Depending on the season, this can take up to 2 weeks.
3. The clay tiles are collected and are cut to size and knocked smooth. Are the tiles the right size? Then they go back into the sun to dry even more.
4. When the tiles are dry, they are glazed in the correct colour. Each tile is dipped into the glaze by hand. The glaze always looks "muddy" and only acquires its colour at high temperatures.
5. Next, the tiles are stacked in an olive pit kiln. This oven is round and high; the closer the fire, the darker the glaze becomes. This creates the special colour nuances.
6. Zelliges are then cut into the right shape, for example the Poisson Echelles. This is done by hand, tile by tile.