Tile facts for kids

Decorative tilework in Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran - early 17th century

tiled floor

Blue Turkish tiles

A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, porcelain, metal or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, and walls. They have been made for thousands of years.

Tiles can be simple square tiles or arranged in complex mosaics. Tiles are most often made from ceramic, with a hard glaze finish.

At the end of the 20th century, the technology of porcelain and glass tiles advanced, making them cheaper. They became more commonplace.

Roof tiles

Ancient Greek roof tiles

Roof tiles are designed mainly to keep out rain, and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay or slate. Modern materials such as concrete and plastic are also used and some clay tiles have a waterproof glaze.

A large number of shapes (or "profiles") of roof tiles have evolved.

Fired roof tiles are found as early as the 3rd millennium BC in the House of the tiles in Lerna, Greece. Debris found at the site contained thousands of terracotta tiles having fallen from the roof. In the Mycenaean period, roofs tiles are documented for Gla and Midea.

Images for kids

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  Art Nouveau tiles in Bruxelles (Belgium)

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  Relief made with glazed brick tiles, from the Achaemenid decoration of Palace of Darius in Susa.

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  The Shah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran

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  Tumurid turquoise-glazed muqarna. First half of the 15th century, Shah-i-Zinda

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  Two panels of earthenware tiles painted with polychrome glazes over a white glaze. (Iran 19thC)

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  Phoenix on the portal of Nadir Divan-Beghi Madrasah, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

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  Zellige tilework in the Palace El-Hedine, Meknes, Morocco

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  Casa de los Azulejos, Mexico City, 18th century, with azulejos

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  Medieval encaustic tiles at Cleeve Abbey, England

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  17th century Delft blue and white tile with sea monster

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  Tiles in a pub in Utrecht, Netherlands

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  Roofs with "beaver tail" tiles in Dinkelsbühl, Germany

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  Floor tile in Karpas, northeastern Cyprus

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  Patio with stone tile, Hawaii, US 1960

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  Tilework in Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

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  Tile in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

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  Enderun library, Topkapi Palace

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  Window Apartments of the Crown Prince, Topkapi Palace

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  Quadra (architecture) of St. John the Baptist covered with azulejos in carpet style (17th c.); Museu da Reinha D. Leonor; Beja, Portugal.

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  The Battle of Buçaco, depicted in azulejos.

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See also

In Spanish: Baldosa para niños