Zellige: a determinedly contemporary art
Craft and completely manual material, the zellige, stone floor of terra-cotta, makes for base of clay of Fes. Nature or enamelled, the zellige becomes integrated perfectly into our European interior. The wealth of the forms and the beauty of colors make of the zellige an element of decoration privileged to dress splendidly kitchens, bathrooms, hammams, swimming pools and terraces. The choice of the compositions and the colors allows to ally our modern lifestyle to the oriental poetry.Zellige: a little of history...
The zellige is an element of architecture marroco - Andalusian, which knew how to perfectly adapt itself to the contemporary styles of decoration while protecting a craft mode of manufacturing. Appeared in Morocco in the Xth century in nuances of white and brown, the art of the zellige bloomed in the XIVth century under the dynasty of Mérinides, with the use of the blue, the green and the yellow, the red will be used only from the XVIIth century.
The old enamels in natural tints were used till the beginning of the XXth century. The colors of the zellige had not evolved probably a lot since the period of Mérinides.
The forms and the colors of the zellige
Today, the palette of the colors of the zellige strangely grew rich of lively colors which allow to multiply the compositions in the infinity.
The most current shape of the zellige is the square the dimensions of which are variable:
- 10 x 10 cms - 7 x 7 cms - 5 x 5 cms - 3,5 x 3,5 cms - 2 x 2cm. Other forms are also possible in composition: the Octagon combined with a cabochon, the Star, Cross.
The zellige is used for walls, but also for grounds. It is then molded and possesses a thickness about 2cm. There is in square 10 x 10 simple or in corners cut to be combined with a cabochon of color. To dress grounds we also use Bejmat, paved by 15 x approximately 5 cms 2 cm in thickness. He can be natural or enamelled and can arise or in a simple disposal or in chevron.
The zellige obeys simple techniques of pose and completely within the reach of any good tiler.
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