Majolica tiles - which ones to choose? When it comes to selecting the right material for the floors and walls of your home, many doubts and questions suddenly arise.
For example: better choose the real majolica tiles or the majolica effect tiles in porcelain stoneware ? But above all, what is majolica ? In this article I will help you answer these questions that we usually ask ourselves when it is time to choose the tiles for your home.
First of all you need to understand what are the tiles in "Majolica" and what is the difference with ceramic , terracotta and porcelain . The term ceramic is the generic name used to indicate clay-based artefacts. The name derives from the Greek " Kéramos " which means clay. Depending on the material added to the clay and the type of processing, the final product it can be terracotta, porcelain or majolica.
In particular, terracotta is obtained by cooking porous clay at high temperatures and on the other hand, porcelain is obtained by cooking a ceramic product in a compact paste. The majolica tiles are nothing more than and terracotta glazed with white glaze, fired a second time and finally decorated by hand.
The majolica tiles have their roots in the 10th and 11th centuries. Initially the artifacts were produced according to the Islamic tradition with high silica content. From the thirteenth century the method of production of majolica changed: the pottery was in fact covered with white and opaque paint, then made shiny through the use of lead varnish. Majolica tiles reached the apex of their diffusion in the 15th century: at that time the major centers of majolica production were various Spanish cities such as Granada, Valencia, Barcelona and Mallorca . Indeed, the term "majolica" derives from the latter.
Now that we have clarified the origins of majolica tiles, let's go back to the initial question: better real majolica or one that imitates the stoneware effect? The answer is very subjective based on the use, the size of the area and your budget.
The real majolica tiles are produced by hand: made and decorated by hand by master craftsmen. Their processing is long and completely manual. It is therefore an authentic product, witness of the craftsmanship that unfortunately is increasingly disappearing.
However, if your budget is low enough and you want to recreate the effect of majolica in your bathroom or kitchen, then we recommend you focus on effect tiles majolica in porcelain stoneware , which reproduce the effect of majolica using a resistant and long-lasting material such as porcelain stoneware.
For example, the Eco Ceramica's "Maioliche Italiane" line takes up the tradition of majolica in a modern key: pastel colors such as white, blue or dove gray are combined with elegant floral and geometric decorations. Look for inspiration among the products below and order a sample to touch them firsthand!
