Our tiles are not quarried, nor are they ceramic, nor terracotta, nor anything else you are accustomed to - they are a unique technology and uniquely, enduringly beautiful; learn here about their history and how they are handcrafted ...

The origin of the word mosaic is from the Greek, mosaicon, which means (patient) "work, worthy of the muses", implying that patience and attention in the handcrafting results in a work of rare beauty and enormous durability. A mosaic is an artistic ornamental composition, in two or more colors, formed by square or irregular pieces of varied dimensions, normally less than 20 cm², which can be of natural stone, terra-cotta, ceramic, glass or marble, fastened on a stable surface by cement, plaster, stucco or other adhesive.

 

The hydraulic tiles - mosaicos or ladrilhos in Portuguese - of Pelotas are still all manufactured by hand using a process that was already old when the Moors brought it from North Africa into Spain and Portugal during the 5th - 11th centuries AD; perhaps it had arrived even earlier, brought by the Phoenicians sometime before Roman Imperial days. Many of the old tile rugs have survived outdoors in revered sites such as the Prado in Madrid for centuries, still full of colour and life, a testament to the toughness of their structure and the durability of the traditional method of colouration. Of course this technology came to South America with the earliest Portuguese and Spanish settlers. (Click to see how hydraulic tiles are made in our manufactory!)

 
Fábrica de Mosaicos de Pelotas (Mosaics Factory of Pelotas), founded about 1914, shared the local hydraulic tile market with sixteen other factories -a 'boom' industry generated by the enormous wealth of the city at this time. The salted and dried meat industry, established at the end of the 18th century, was the keystone of the remarkable economical development of Pelotas, transforming it into a hub of great agricultural and subsidiary industry wealth. This resulted in Pelotas being one of the earliest examples of urban planning in Brazil, and the evolution of a quite special architecture, because the rich 'jerky' (dried beef) manufacturers brought many European artists and architects here to accomplish countless works. 
 
In this context, the existence of so many hydraulic tile factories is understandable. As a consequence, the sidewalks became galleries of unique designs and colors transforming the heart of the city into a work of art. The hydraulic tile is a byword for Pelotas. Unfortunately, today's competition from cheaper mass-produced tiles in ceramics and other materials has crushed the hydraulic tile market almost out of existence - ours is the only factory left where once there were 17, and we are committed to do our best to retain this traditional industry, its technology and the unique arts that go with them. 

We hope that you appreciate the beauty and the uniqueness of our handmade tiles, and invest in them for at least one feature for your home or workplace, and thereby contribute to the preservation of this wonderful traditional handcraft.

 

Yes, they are expensive - about AU$225 / m² - but so is all good art ... and a sound investment!

Below you can see some of the display at our manufactory ... which would you like best for your home or office?