How tiles are made by hand
The beginning
The clay is purified and mixed with water, then kneaded and placed in a de-airing pug mill to extract the air. Next, the soft clay is rolled to a thickness of approximately 8 mm. These rolled flat pieces of clay are allowed to dry overnight. The next day, when the clay has become as tough as leather, it can be made into a tile.
The tile maker uses the same tools as four centuries ago, namely a knife and a wooden mould with little nails in the corners. The nails keep the tile in place while it is cut to size. Afterwards, the imprints of the nails remain visible as minute points in the glaze.
The tile maker cuts the tile at an inward angle so it can be installed with an exceptionally narrow joint just as in former days.
the clay
cutting the tile to size
little holes at the corners
pottery kiln
The painting
After an initial drying phase, the tile is baked for the first time (bisquit). Next, it is manually covered in a tin glaze. The glaze is based on a 16th and 17th century recipe. Once the glazing is finished, the tile is painted.
For each decor the tile maker uses a sponge. A sponge is a decor design of which the contours are pierced with fine needle points. This sponge is placed on the wet glazing and then covered with charcoal powder. The resulting dotted line is the painter's only support. The dotted line is redrawn with a fine paint brush and then the colours are filled in.
The paints applied are, in fact, glazes coloured by a metal oxide. These glazes blend with the layer of tin glaze during the second baking in the pottery kiln.
glazing
sponging
painting
final result
The Painter's Fantasy
A painter's individual style remains visible even though the contours of the decor are determined by the sponge. The way in which the colours are placed in sea and air scenes is determined by the individual painter's craftsmanship. Hence, each product has its own unique character.
The previously described technique is known as the majolica or faience technique. This centuries old technique was applied quite commonly in the Netherlands but is now quite rare. The Harlinger Pottery and Tile manufactory still honours this technique.