US $.99
Ceramic Floor Tiles and Why They are Special
Ceramic tiles are special. It's not just because of the fact that they generally make better flooring than carpets or wood, it's no that they keep you cool in very hot summers. There is more to ceramic tiles than what is usually let on.
Ceramic tiles have a long and illustrious history – nearly as long as civilization itself. The first tiles used that have been found are roof tiles dating from 6000 years in 4000 BC. In the Early Helladic House the Tiles, fired terracotta roof tiles has been found at the site in Lerna, Greece. In the Mycenaean Period, roof tiles were documented for Gla and Medea. The Chinese also had ceramic artwork, but they never used tiles in the way that the Europeans or the Middle Eastern nations did.
The Dutch style, otherwise know as the Delft Style of ceramic floor tile making was started in a Dutch town called Delft in 1544. In 50 years, the craftsmanship became so popular and world renowned that the Dutch prospered immensely from it. However, with increased popularity, there was a commensurate increase in competition and the Dutch floundered – all that remained was their style, which slowly changed due to Chinese influence into the blue and white ceramic glazed tiles that we know today. The other major competitor to the Delft Style is the Maiollican Style, crafted by the artisans of Italy and Spain, which are to this day considered among the greatest tile makers in the world.
In the 19th century the British pioneered the mass production of ceramic floor tiles, boosted by the effects of the Industrial Revolution. The British prospered much like the Dutch and much like the Dutch they succumbed to the increased competition that popularity brought. The Americans overtook the British as the main mass producer of floor tiles but were kept on their guard with the ever present availability of English wares.
Today's floors are mostly covered by ceramic tiling as it has proven to have the best cost to upkeep ratio. While there are many types of flooring that are cheaper than ceramic floor tiles, nothing can really compare to negligible cost of upkeep that ceramic tiles bring to the table. They are easy to clean and do not crack easily. They might not have the durability of porcelain or the luster of marble, but they do not have the price either yet they are relatively similar to both. They are better than a Jack of all trades and it is precisely for this reason that they have been an integral part of every major historic event the world has ever seen. Whether it be in the Far East, the Middle East or anywhere else – ceramic floor tiles have been there to keep people feeling good.
So the next time you think about buying new floor tiles for a new room in your home or for a refurbishment of an existing room, think about the versatility of ceramic floor tiles. Think about the longevity of these marvels of human ingenuity and think to yourself... What history will these tiles witness?
Your Delft blue portrait on a real KLM plane!
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VINTAGE GERMAN BLUE DELFT PLATE CHARGER WINDMILL BOAT $96.00 |
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2 Dutch Hand Painted Delft Blue Steins Mugs Made in Holland MINTY $14.99 |
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Delft Blue Pair Of Candlestick Holders--Dutch Windmill & Floral Motif--2" Tall $7.00 |
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Miniature Blue & White Small Handled Square Delft Bowl Hand Painted Windmill $14.99 |
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ORIGINAL DELFT Blue LARGE Vase Flowers Hand Painted Windmill Holland Crown Mark $29.99 |
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Rare Thooft & Delft De Porceleyne Fles Art Pottery Blue & Blk Vase Artist Signed $499.99 |
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e478: FLORAL 11½" DELFT BLUE PLATE BY THE PORCELEYNE FLES $99.00 |
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6.5" TALL ORIGINAL DELFT Blue FIGURINE Farm Boy Porcelain Pig DA $19.99 |
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Delft Mettlach Man Tile Blue 6" Germany $10.00 |
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Vintage Delft Mettlach Windmill Tile Blue 6" Germany $10.00 |
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#224 LOT 4 BLUE WHITE DELFT AUSTRIA VASE HAIR LINE CANDLE STICK PITCHER BOX sg. $20.00 |
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Delft Hand Painted Blue Floral Windmills Miniature Bell $7.99 |
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Delft Mettlach Man Playing Violin FiddleTile Blue 6" Germany $10.00 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 24 of 2010 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 39 of 2010 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 64 of 2004 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 1 of 2004 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 67 of 2004 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 33 of 2004 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 21 of 2010 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 42 of 2003 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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KLM / BOLS Blue Delft Miniature House number 19 of 2004 SEALED VGC $7.90 |
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A Beautiful Blue & White Delft Small Vase $6.31 |
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Holland Handpainted Delft Blue Windmill Ashtray Shoe $9.98 |
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CERAMIC POTTERY DELFT HANDPAINT FLOW BLUE PITCHER $140.00 |
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Unique Vintage Delft Blue CanalHouse Bottle Handpainted $9.99 |
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CUTE BLUE OWL TEAPOT MADE OF DELFT SBL AUW 541 HOLLAND CROWN MARK GRADUATE DRESS $9.99 |
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Vintage blue delft shoe and boot $30.00 |
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~DELFT~Large Blue Horse & Carriage China Charger/Plate Stunning Art Piece! $140.00 |
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Blue Windmill Wash Basin & Pitcher Unmarked Delft? Super Estate Find on 3-23-12 $29.99 |
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DELFT Blue Handpainted Cream & Sugar w/Serving Tray - VINTAGE! $19.99 |
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Vintage Delft blue with platimun trim pitcher made in Holland with windmill $25.00 |
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6" TALL ORIGINAL DELFT Blue FIGURINE BOY & GIRL PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS $11.99 |
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Vintage blue delft Holland shoes with windmills marked Elsva Holland $20.00 |
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Delfts Blauw Delft Blue Ceramic Shoe $7.00 |
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Delft Blue Bulb Pot with Windmill Scene $1.99 |
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6" TALL ORIGINAL DELFT Blue FIGURINE BOY FISHING W/ROD PORCELAIN DA $13.99 |
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Delft Blue Valance Antique Tile Patterns Delftware Toile Fired Earth England $14.99 |
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Delft Blue Fabric Antique Tile Patterns Delftware Toile England Fired Earth 102" $39.99 |
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7" TALL ORIGINAL HANDPAINTED DELFT Blue FIGURINE GIRL FEEDING GEESE MOTHERGOOSE $13.99 |
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Vintage Dutch Delft Blue Large Urn Vase Double Handled 2 Handle Belgian Belgium $24.99 |
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Hand Painted Delft Blue Piggy Pig Bank Windmill Design $9.99 |
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blue delft royal distilleries holland house $16.99 |
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duck blue and white blue delft?appx 4 in $9.99 |
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Small vintage Asian blue delft bowl $5.00 |
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**NEW** DELFT BLUE DINNER PLATE $9.99 |
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Large pair antique Dutch DELFT BLUE VASES $595.00 |
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Vtg/Delftware Holland/Pot/Bowl/Art Pottery/Pedestal/Floral/Blue White/Delft $19.95 |
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DELFT/Bowl/Candy DISH/Holland/WINDMILL/Cut Out Hearts/Blue/White $12.95 |
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Vintage DELFT BLUE Egg Cup HOLLAND Pottery Bread Wine & Polka Dots $4.99 |
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Delft Blue Plate Kasteel Doorwerth Bach Schoonhoven $8.99 |
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Vintage Delft 1984 Holland Blue 3 12 inch kissing figures $8.00 |
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Vintage DELFT Blue & White Bowl Windmills Ships Unmarked $10.99 |
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PORCELAIN Blue WILLOW / BLUE DELFT - ONION design Umbrella Stand Vase 18" tall $25.50 |
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BLUE AND WHITE DELFT LIKE COW CREAMER WITH DUTCH BOY AND GIRL - HAND PAINTED $20.00 |
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Dutch A.G. Handworked WINDMILL Holland Delft Blue Spinning Hand Painted Souvenir $5.99 |
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Genuine DELFT BLUE Hand Painted Shoe - Made in Holland $32.99 |
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Genuine DELFT BLUE Hand Painted Dutch Shoe - Holland $22.99 |
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DELFT HOLLAND MADE BLUE AND WHITE FLORAL PITCHER $12.99 |
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VINTAGE CHARMING OLD FASHIONED CANDLEHOLDER WITH HANDLE BY CROWN DELFT BLUE WHIT $14.00 |
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Vintage Delfts Delft Pitcher Dutch Made in Holland - Blue & White Windmill $3.50 |
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2 Delft Blue Shoes or Clogs $7.95 |
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DAIC Delft Blue Hand Painted Cow Mug 3D VINTAGE $7.99 |
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Delft Style Pottery Holland Dutch Boy Blue & White Ashtray $19.99 |
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STONEWARE CERAMIC VINTAGE DELFT HOLLAND WINDMILL BLUE VASE POTTERY $9.99 |
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DELFT-BLAUW made in Holland Vase & Shoe Ashtray: Blue & White Windmill Design $15.00 |
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Vintage Minature Delft Blue and White Mouse Porcelain Figurine $1.99 |
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Beautiful Dutch Souvenir Ceramic Delft Blue Blauw Clog Collectible Hand painted $29.50 |
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''DELFT BLUE CREAMER COW #46 $55.00 |
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Pristine pair of Delft blue and white vintage floral planters/vase/ashtrays $5.95 |
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Vintage Delft Blauw handpainted blue and white shoe planter $4.99 |
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Beautiful Blue DELFT China Trinket Box Footed with Lid...Handpainted...RARE! $12.95 |
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3" DELFT BLUE Holland Ashtray Shoe Clog Windmill Dutch Mini Hand Painted, EUC $2.99 |
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Collectible Delft Spice Jars Blue Flower Written in Dutch Set of Three $9.95 |
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Lot 2 Vintage Delft Blue White Holland and Hand painted $29.95 |
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BOLS HANDPAINTED DELFT BLUE DECANTER by Zenith made in HOLLAND $6.99 |
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Mini Shoe / Boot Vase Delft Blue Holland 1984 - Handpainted 3-5/8" L x 1-1/2"W $14.99 |
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Delft Blue and White collector plates set of 2 village cottage scenes GUC $10.00 |
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MINT CONDITION! BLUE DELFT'S Made EXCLUSIVELY for KLM By BOLS ~ #14 $9.95 |
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KLM Delft Collector's Miniature Characteristic Old Dutch Blue & White House #13 $0.99 |
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Bandana Print Delft Napkin Perfect for picnic or party to go. 100% cotton, 20 x 20".... |
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Delft Blue Dog Salt and Pepper Shaker #D417 $10.95 Cute Delft blue doggie salt and pepper shakers are sitting in a basket, all made of porcelain! The cute dog salt and pepper shakers measure 2 3/4 inches tall and the basket is 5 inches long. The dogs have cute bows on their necks and a traditional windmill design on their backs and inside the basket. Hand painted, made in Holland.... |
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Silicone Trivet Delft Rose Blue 9 $24.00 Delft Blue Trivet created by Anouk Jensen. After the success of her Rose Trivet, she took her inspiration from the beautiful Delft tiles and came with this new, funky and familiar silicone trivet. Dishwasher proof and heat resistant.... |
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Switchplates White Porcelain, Triple Toggle Delft Blue Switch Plate $14.00 Triple Toggle Delft Blue Switch Plate... |
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Belwith/Hickory Hdwre 1-1/2-IN Diameter English Cozy Knob #P29-BF $0.99 1-1/2" Diameter English Cozy cabinet-and-furniture-knobs - Delft Blue Flower... |
