Encaustic tiles.

Manufacturer and builder 6, 1869

Who has forgotten the old Dutch glazed porcelain tiles with which the hearths of a previous generation were so quaintly and yet so neatly paved? They have passed away with their equally quaint owners, and have given plsce to materials which, in many cases, have few of their good qualities. Of late years, however, a new form of floor-tile has been introduced, which bids fair to come into very extensive use. Already they may be seen forming the floors of halls, libraries, dining-rooms, conservatories, etc., and in some of our public buildings they have been used quite extensively. Thus, in the Capitol at Washin-ton, the floors of the extension are laid with them, and both the ceiling and floors of the covered part of the terrace in the New-York Central Park are formed of these tiles. In their favor they have durability, cleanliness, and fine appearance to recommend them. As yet we believe, they are not made in this country, but are manufactured by Messrs. Minto & Co., of Staffordshire, England, and are extensively imported by Messrs. Miller & Coates. of 279 Pearl street, in this city. They are of two kinds, encaustic, or inlaid, and plain. The plain tiles are of various sizes, the largest being squares of six by six inch., and octagons of nearly six and a quarter inch.. They are of two thickness, half inch and one inch, the former of which is strong enough for all floors excepting those of warehouses, etc. The usual colors are buff, red, black, drab, chocolate, blue, and white; and the shapes are squares, octagons, hexagons and their divisions; so that infinite changes may bo made in the patterns. Each tile is of one color, which extends entirely through.

The inlaid tiles are one inch thick, and, excepting some borders, nearly all are six by six inches. They are made by filling indentations in the unburnt the with the desired colors, and burning the whole together. Thus the figures are not merely painted on the surface, like those of the tiles of continental Europe, but are inlaid to a certain depth in the body of the tile. There is great variety in the patterns, and the colors are buff, blue, white, red, pink, green, chocolate, black, etc.