• art.zellige@gmail.com
  • (+212)661 735 371/(+212)670 867 154
  • art.zellige@gmail.com
  • (+212)661 735 371/(+212)670 867 154
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Traditional Designs of Moroccan Tiles

Moroccan tile have a substantial historical backgroun. it reflects traditional design, and it exists in almost every Moroccan household, or an old building in ancient medinas such as Fez, Meknes, and Marrakech.

Moroccan tile or Moroccan mosaic is traditionally handmade by artisans and craftsmen, using natural clear clay and cement, mixed with water, shaped by hand and fired in kilns, with a touch of influence from the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East regions on the design. It is the unique traditional design that makes Moroccan Zellije tiles so charming and beautiful, with colorful glass and an uneven finish in different shapes and sizes, making the Moroccan tile always look like new with age, as historical works of art.

 

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Steps for Moroccan tile traditional and natural production

The clay is mixed with water and kneaded by hand for a while before being shaped into tiles. The tiles measure 4 inches on each side and about half an inch thick. The tiles are sun-dried before the start of the glazing and firing process. A special oven is used that is treated with the traditional fuel available – usually olive pits. Each tile is a single color, and each color must be fired at a specific temperature. After firing, the tiles are removed from the oven and sorted. Apprentices then draw the shapes of the mosaic pieces to be cut directly on the tile. They use a zellige template to carefully fit as many pieces as possible onto each tile.

The Moroccan tile is then brought to the cutter, who sits cross-legged in front of a simple workbench, which is just a pile of stones. A piece of iron or a harder stone serves as a support for the tile to be cut. The tool used to cut the tile looks like a hammer, but it is larger and wider. It is carefully sharpened at each end. The weight and size of the cutting tool contrast sharply with the small delicate pieces of the Moroccan tile. Once the zellige pieces are skillfully cut, the edges are filed if necessary, and they are placed in baskets according to their shape and color. A zellige artisan can cut up to about 1000 pieces per day.

 

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