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Cement, pigment, water, time and a lot of patience. Anyone who has that at hand can theoretically make a decorated cement tile. The Moors did that ten centuries ago and it is still done that way in the cement tile factories of today. The production technique and the cement itself have been further developed and perfected over time, but in essence it is still the same traditional and environmentally friendly handicraft. The technique of making cement tiles with colourful decorations and patterns was learned by the Europeans from the Moors. By pouring coloured marble powder into a mould and sprinkling cement over it and then pressing the whole thing together well, a tile is created that is suitable for floors and walls.
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The Moors invaded Spain in 711. A few decades later, they had conquered all of Spain and the south of Portugal. They introduced Islam and a high-quality Moorish-Spanish culture developed. The centuries-long rule by the Moors has left clear traces, especially in architecture, especially in cities such as Córdoba, Seville, Granada and Málaga. The Alhambra Palace near Granada is one of the most beautiful examples of Moorish-Arab architecture in Europe. The walls of this building are beautifully decorated with countless multi-coloured tiles.
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Fifteenth century: out of favor After the Moors were finally expelled from Spain in 1492, the colorfully decorated cement tiles fell out of favor. This did not change until the nineteenth century, when numerous archaeological discoveries in Europe rekindled interest in ancient civilizations and cultures. One of these cultures was early Arab culture. In the Islamic architecture of that time, we see many vibrant colors and patterns and designs based on geometry, calligraphy, flowers and plants. The basis of these designs was adopted by new designers in the Mediterranean and often adapted slightly to each country's own cultural taste.
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Art Nouveau: heyday At the end of the nineteenth century, the use of cement tiles was especially popular among the high society of Barcelona. These were the heydays of Art Nouveau and Barcelona played a major role in this with Antonio Gaudí as a great predecessor in the field of design and architecture. Just like other architects and designers, Gaudí also designed his own cement tile, an apple-green hexagonal tile that he used for the interior of the Casa Milà in Barcelona. Cement tiles became increasingly popular during this period, first in the rest of Spain and then also in other southern European countries.
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twentieth century: most popular floor covering At the beginning of the twentieth century, cement tiles were the most popular floor covering in the Mediterranean region: North Africa, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. From here, the tiles spread across the former European colonies and eventually they could be found in all corners of the world. This golden age only came to an end in the fifties of the last century, when more and more and cheaper industrial products became available and people switched to granite or ceramic or plastic tiles.
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Twenty-first century: back to basics Now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the demand for authentic and sustainable products is increasing. And so is the demand for cement tiles, which in the Netherlands are known as Portuguese tiles, cement tiles or mosaic tiles. The renewed enthusiasm for this 'green' product can be explained as a reaction to the current technological era, in which industrially manufactured materials often place high demands on the environment. No heating is used in the production of cement tiles. The ingredients used are environmentally friendly and sustainable, just like centuries ago. That is why more and more professional designers and private individuals like to use cement tiles as a high-quality and decorative element. They are reminiscent of times gone by, full of beauty and exclusivity.
