Production of Moroccan tiles

  • Moroccan tiles, also known as Zellige, Bejmat and Platta. Who doesn't know them? These tiles are still handmade 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 that cover the courtyards in Morocco. The Platta tile is exclusive to Designtegels. A mix of the different shapes 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. In Fez, Morocco, Moroccan tiles are made. This city is known for its perfect clay! The clay is collected, mixed with water and mixed well.
2. The clay is pressed into molds 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 tablets are collected and cut to size and smoothed out. Are the tiles the right size? Then they go back into the sun to dry even further.

4. When the tiles are dry, they are glazed in the right colour. Each tile is manually dipped in the glaze. The glaze always looks "muddy" and only gets its colour at high temperatures.
5. The tiles are then stacked in an olive pit oven. This oven is round and high, the closer to 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.

  • Zelliges Inspiration Guide

    Want to see and view more about Moroccan Zellige? View the inspiration guide.

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  • Bejmat Inspiration Guide

    Want to see and view more about Moroccan Bejmat? Check out the inspiration guide.

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  • Inspiration guide Platta

    Want to see and view more about Moroccan Platta? Check out the inspiration guide.

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