Sarah Walton is one of very few producers of saltglazed tiles in this country. These are suitable for both interior and exterior use.

An appreciation of the way surfaces are eroded over hundreds of years by the effects of use and weathering has been the inspiration for these tiles. The material used is stoneware clay so the tiles are therefore very hard indeed. Some warpage occurs with such high fired wares and this contributes to the final surface of great three dimensional and tactile richness. Their colourings can be compared to English Medieval tiles of the 12”’ to 15”’ centuries. As with these, earth colourings predominate ranging through grey, cream, pink, orange and red to rich dark brown. There is a variation of tone across each tile which makes no single tile of uniform colour.

The distinctive mottling and iridescence of their surfaces result from the unusual method of firing which they have had. No two tiles are the same. The dappled effect built up with such tiles makes a very effective decoration of its own. A range of tiles with inscribed geometric pattern is also made and, to order, tiles with inscribed motifs of bowls of fruit, fish, Thames barges and trees. These are shown to best advantage when spaced between plain tiles. It is colour and form more than two dimensional pattern which feature strongly with such tiling.

The tiles come in two sizes and three patterns.

1) 110mm x 110mm x 12mm. 400gms

Plain £7.00 each
Decorated / Linear £7.50 each
Decorated / Motif £13.00 each

(£486 per square yard)

2) 150mm x 150mm x 12mm. 700gms

Plain £11.00 each
Decorated / Linear £11.50each
Decorated / Motif £16.00 each

(£360 per square yard)

Delivery charges not included. No VAT.

Also available from Tilescape, Brighton

Photography by: Richard Henman, Duncan McNeill, Neville Langley, Werner Baumann, Isobel Dennis & Antonia Reeve.