Thousands of years of history over your head and below your feet.

The history of ceramic tile extends to nearly every culture of the world. Social, political, and economic forces have influenced tile over the centuries, and in turn, tile has lent its versatile style and functionality to our greatest historical buildings and most treasured icons. The fact that numerous early tile constructions still exist is a testament to ceramic tile’s durability.

Many historic tile designs have influenced contemporary tile styles and uses, and technological advances continue to evolve, producing limitless ceramic tile options. We’ve explored tile’s history from its early origins through Modern European designs to better understand how tile has endured the rise and fall of empires and why tile is a smart and beautiful choice today.

For additional historical tile examples and information, visit The Tile Heritage Foundation, an archival library dedicated to the preservation of ceramic surfaces and their history.