6 x 6 Tulip tile - Summer Dreams

These are made-to-order 6 x 6 deep relief Tulip tiles in a glossy light blue crackle glaze called South Pacific. The actual size measures approximately 5-13/16" square.  You can use them in a kitchen backsplash, fireplace surround, or bathroom wall along with my other plain field tiles to create a unique installation.  

The tiles are semi-vitreous and high-fired to over 2150 degrees for lasting durability.  Slight variations in glaze color give them a unique character and is an expected feature of handmade tiles. The craftsmanship put into each of my handmade tiles give them their unique beauty. 

I make these using the traditional method of tile production that was used for centuries before mass-production techniques were introduced. After the original design is carved, I make a plaster mold of it. Each tile is then pressed into the mold and takes several days to slowly dry before being fired in my kiln for the first time. Most of the mass-produced tiles you find these days are quickly fired in about 1 hour. However, I use 2 separate and lengthy kiln firings instead which are necessary to create very unique and interesting glaze surfaces, The first firing, called the bisque firing, is used to harden the clay and make it ready to accept glaze. After the first firing, the glaze is applied by hand and then they are fired a 2nd time to over 2150 degrees. This is a much higher temperature than most commercial tiles are fired to and results in very durable and interesting glaze surfaces. Each glaze firing takes about 2 days to complete. This long and slow glaze firing is necessary to give the components of each glaze plenty of time to melt, flow, and interact with each other and results in very beautiful glaze surfaces from the deep translucent glossy glazes to the variegated colors. The slight variations in glaze color give them their unique character and beauty.