The Decorative Tile in Architecture and Interiors - Hardcover

Herbert, Tony; Huggins, Kathryn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0714831611 ISBN 13: 9780714831619

Publisher: Phaidon Inc Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

Ceramic tiles are one of the oldest and most universally employed forms of architectural decoration. During the nineteenth century this medium reached a zenith. This beautifully presented book highlights the way in which the Industrial Revolution transformed the use of ceramic tiles in buildings. It not only brought new techniques and equipment for production but created an expanding world market for decorative building materials.
The book explores in depth the visual richness of the subject, featuring the variety of techniques used by decorative tile manufacturers and the multitude of ways in which designers, architects and builders exploited the infinite colour palette of ceramic glazes. Coupled with design inspirations from around the world and from the history of ceramics, the resulting buildings show how the creative use of ceramic tiles can produce architecture and interiors of remarkable quality.
The authors seek to integrate tiles, their design and manufacture, with the architectural and social environment in which they were used. Sumptuous illustrations, including specially commissioned pictures of previously unpublished tile schemes, provide detailed coverage, especially of the key Victorian period. This book benefits from the authors' years of experience with tiles, designs and architecture, from which an authoritative story has been distilled.

About this title

About the Author

Tony Herbert is a writer and lecturer on architectural ceramics and design history. As a consultant on historical tiles, he has worked on major Victorian buildings such as the Foreign Office. Chairman of the International Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society, he specializes in the conservation of ceramic tiles and buildings. Kathryn Huggins was responsible for the tile collections and displays at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

From Library Journal

This visually stunning volume successfully integrates the history and development of decorative tile?from ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern times to the present?with details of design and manufacturing and discussions of their diverse uses within both architectural and societal contexts. Various chapters focus on traditional, commercial, religious, and domestic use and architectural periods and revivals; they bring to light many of the important architects, designers, and manufacturers connected with the tile industry, including Wedgwood, Minton, Maw, Pugin, Boulenger, Eastlake, Morris, De Morgan, and Gaudi, to name a few. The illustrations are a key element in explaining and comparing differences and similarities in tile use and design, exploring architectural wonders from the New Palace of Westminster and St. George's Hall of Liverpool to the Meat Hall of Harrods, Knightsbridge in London. Besides the usual bibliographic notes and index, this volume includes a directory of architects and designers and a gazetteer of historically notable tiled buildings. Recommended for collections emphasizing architecture and decorative arts.?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Phaidon Inc Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0714831611
• ISBN 13: 9780714831619
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240