March 31, 2023

Encaustic tiles with their matte finish and often-bold, colorful patterns are undoubtedly beautiful. If you peruse Pinterest or Instagram, you’ve likely seen the trendy patterned tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and more. The visuals of these tiles are gorgeous and provide fun eye candy for your Instagram scrolling; however, there’s so much more to the story if you’re considering encaustic tiles for your interior design project.  

What are Encaustic Tiles, Really?

The word “encaustic” technically refers to a process of painting with a beeswax-based paint and then firing with heat. In medieval times, the tiles were made up of different colors of clay that were inlaid together in a pattern, then fired in a kiln so that the design remains as the tile is worn down. The “inlaid” tiles were widely used in monasteries and churches.

The Gothic Revival of “Encaustic” Tiles & the Victorians’ Big Mistake

The inlaid (encaustic) tiles pretty much disappeared for a couple of hundred years, but fast forward to the Victorian era and the Gothic revival in architecture, and we discover ceramic tiles that look like the inlaid tiles of the Middle Ages becoming very popular. Minton’s Ltd., the leading ceramic supplier in England then, was a big producer of these tiles, and it’s said that Prince Albert commissioned Minton tilework many times during Queen Victoria’s reign. 


Victorian ceramic encaustic tiles

Victorians erroneously called the tiles encaustic because they looked like a type of medieval enameling referred to as encaustic. However, the ceramic tiles weren’t truly encaustic because there was no wax involved. But the descriptor “encaustic” has been misused ever since!

Are Cement Tiles Encaustic?

Cement tiles are not technically encaustic because cement tiles are compressed and cured at room temperature, not fired and there is no glaze layer on the surface of the tile. The pigment layer is hydraulically pressed into the surface and becomes a part of the tile. Patterned cement tiles are very often called encaustic tiles as well as hydraulic, Mission, or Redondo tiles.

Late 19th C cement tiles

Are Ceramic Tiles Encaustic?

No, but unglazed ceramic tiles are really more similar to medieval inlaid tiles (later called encaustic). Like the medieval tiles, ceramic tile is made of clay and is fired in a kiln.

What are Encaustic Tiles Today?

So, we’re back to the question of what people in the modern day design world mean when they refer to tiles as encaustic. While the term is most often associated with patterned cement tiles, the truth is the term encaustic really just refers to a look—  it’s a word to describe tiles that are multi-colored with various patterns, symbols, or floral motifs.

Crossville Studios offers a wide variety of encaustic patterned ceramic and porcelain tiles. Unlike their cement tile counterparts, these ceramic encaustic tiles don’t need frequent sealing (which can be as often as once a month!), they don’t stain, and they are not porous. And if you place ceramic and cement encaustic tiles side by side? We bet you won’t see much difference! Here’s look at just a few of our bold and beautiful encaustic patterned tile collections.

Marrakesh Ceramic Tile & Porcelain Tile

Intricate patterns and rich colors are dazzling in these Moroccan-inspired floor and wall tiles. Our Marrakesh tile collection is available in glossy wall tiles and matte finish floor tiles. Use these colorful encaustic patterned tile to create dramatic designs anywhere

Havanna Porcelain Tile

Inspired by the traditional cement tiles, our Havana porcelain floor and wall tile collection is the perfect accent to any space. The encaustic pattern brings color and design that merges the classic and modern looks.

Comfort C Porcelain Tile

Our Comfort C  porcelain tile collection for walls and floors makes a bold statement with playful geometrics and timeless traditional patterns. This this low-maintenance, no-worry encaustic tile-inspired porcelain tile  collection is the perfect balance of style and function.

Casablanca Porcelain Tile

Look to the past to reinvent the present by using classic geometric shapes and patterns. Our Casablanca porcelain floor and wall tile collection pays tribute to encaustic tiles while adding a modern twist.

Boreal Porcelain Tile

Our Boreal porcelain tile collection offers the charm and warmth of a cement soul inside a trendy designed porcelain body. The square porcelain tiles wills offer the freedom to dress both floor and walls.

Twenty Porcelain Tile

Our Twenty porcelain tile collection offers multiple color combinations and sophisticated patterns. This encaustic patterned collection allows you to use tile in a lively and fresh way on on interior and exterior floors and walls to create unique spaces with strong visual impact.
 

See something you love? Reach out to your nearest Crossville Studios location and ask for a free tile sample. Great design starts with a sample!
 

1. By MortimerCat - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Author unknown - CC BY-SA 2.5