Unique to Mistral, lead-free Italian glazes are applied to the
Zellige tiles to achieve a striking, fresh palette curated for
today's distinctive interiors and exteriors
HARBOR
CITY, Calif., July 31,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Mistral collection
introduced by Lunada Bay Tile reinterprets the heritage of
Zellige tiles for the modern day. As one of the oldest tile-making
traditions in the world, Zellige tiles have adorned mosques and
palaces for centuries.
"Zellige is truly timeless in tile design.
These tiles are characterized by glazed, irregular surfaces and can
be used to create stunning mosaic designs in captivating geometric
patterns."
"Zellige is truly timeless in tile design. These tiles are
characterized by glazed, irregular surfaces and can be used to
create stunning mosaic designs in captivating geometric patterns,"
says Marketing & Design Director Feras
Irikat, Lunada Bay Tile.
Zellige is a style of mosaic tilework made from individually
hand-chiseled tile pieces and is one of the oldest continually
practiced tile-making traditions in the world. Likely originating
in the ninth century in what is modern day Tunisia, Zellige uses tiles of distinct colors
that are fitted together to form various patterns based on
tessellations or infinitely repeating forms.
The Lunada Bay Tile design team works closely with tile makers
in Fez, Morocco who employ
time-honored methods that have been perfected and passed down over
generations. Mistral tiles are made completely by hand in the same
way authentic Zellige has been made for centuries. This artistic
tradition encapsulates a genuine expression of handmade tiles that
results in "imperfect" but beautifully unique tiles that vary one
from the other in surface, edge, and color.
The individually hand-chiseled tile pieces from Lunada Bay Tile
bridge the past and the present by marrying classic techniques of
tile making with modern patterns and colors. Lead-free, rich, and
glorious Italian glazes are applied to the Zellige tiles—unique to
the industry—to achieve a striking, fresh palette curated for
today's distinctive interior and exteriors.
"The new Mistral patterns are inspired by modern aesthetics from
different decades and the traditional art of making Zellige tile,"
says Irikat.
The Mastery of Mistral Moroccan Mosaics
"When designing Mistral, we wanted to create a fusion between
the traditional art of Zellige tile with a contemporary
interpretation, and craft a more modern aesthetic, created via
color and patterns. So, the patterns that we designed have both a
historical or traditional feel, but they're presented in a much
more modern way."
Mistral takes time honored Zellige designs and forms them into
four patterns to reflect modern sensibilities. Bab, which means
"gate or big door" in Arabic, is drawn from a traditional pattern
but modernized with a curve at the top. It is also inspired by
traditional marble and Byzantine-inspired design. The pattern
represents a movement between two opposing pieces mirroring each
other. Reverie is an artistic combination of several geometric
shapes and incorporates mid-century modern design influences,
mixing and matching shapes and playing with geometry. Kilim is a
triangle shape representative of the amulet protection motifs seen
in Kilim rugs but also inspired by Art Deco influences, and
Trapezium is a traditional Zellige pattern with an added sense of
play in a mirrored trapezoid pattern.
The colors span from a gentle Sheer and All in White, to a
dreamy seafoam green Lotus; to Odyssey, an undulating, wavy
midnight blue; Phantom, a dusky mix of greys, blacks, and charcoal;
and spicy Sumac, a complex and nuanced hue reminiscent of ground
dried berries and red earth, among others. These on-trend colors
echo today's aesthetics. Bab, Kilim, Reverie, and Trapezium have
blends of different glaze colors for each colorway. On the other
hand, the 3x4 Trapezoid Field and Small Bullnose come in single or
solid glaze colors – the colors have variation but are not blends
of different colors.
The Making of Mistral
The making of Mistral is a laborious, hand-made process,
following the time-honored traditions of Zellige tile-making.
Locally sourced clay is pressed by hand into tray-sized molds, then
pounded and manipulated with wooden mallets after drying in the
sun. After kiln-firing, each bisque tile is hand-dipped in glaze
before it is kiln-fired again, and expertly hand-chiseled into its
final shape and fitted together to create their intricate patterns.
Interestingly, the transition from using olive pits and bits of
wood to modern natural gas kilns is the only real change to the
entire process of making Zellige. Everything else is the same as it
has been over the centuries.
The Zellige art form remains not only one of the hallmarks of
Moroccan cultural and artistic identity, but also enjoys popularity
in U.S. modern architecture and design.
"Today, Zellige still can be found in many areas in homes,"
explains Irikat. "These newly imagined Zellige tiles can be used
here in backsplashes, of course, but also can be used artfully to
create accent walls in living and dining rooms, or as a decorative
frame for a doorway or on ceilings."
For inspiration, visit www.LunadaBayTile.com.
About Lunada Bay Tile
Lunada Bay Tile creates handcrafted glass, ceramic, and concrete
tile with an emphasis on artistic simplicity, texture, and color.
The name Lunada Bay Tile honors the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula of Los Angeles and exhibits the brand's design
philosophy – to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern
influences while exploring the boundaries of material
possibilities. To learn more about Lunada Bay Tile and view the
entire product line visit LunadaBayTile.com or call (310)
257-1300.
Media Contact
Jim Stevens, Lunada Bay Tile, 1
3102571300, Jim@LunadaBayTile.com, www.LunadaBayTile.com
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SOURCE Lunada Bay Tile