Sovereignty Module: Press the Tile

Complete Tile Making: From Clay to Decorative and Functional Tilework

Tiles are among the most useful pottery products. This campaign covers tile forming, drying without warping, decorating, and installation.

Chapter 1: Tile Types

Chapter 2: Tile Forming

Slab method: 1) Roll clay slab to even thickness. 2) Use thickness guides (wooden strips on each side). 3) Roll with rolling pin across guides. 4) Cut tiles with template and knife. 5) Place on flat, porous surface (plaster bat or canvas). 6) Cover loosely with plastic. 7) Flip tiles every 12 hours (prevents warping). 8) Dry slowly and evenly.

Chapter 3: Preventing Warping

Chapter 4: Decorating Tiles

Chapter 5: Installation

Reference Card

1. Even thickness prevents warping (a tile that is thicker on one side dries and shrinks unevenly, causing it to curl; use thickness guides and roll in multiple directions for even compression). 2. Flip tiles during drying (the bottom of a tile dries slower than the top because it sits on a surface; flipping every 12 hours ensures both sides dry at the same rate). 3. Dry tiles slowly (rapid drying causes the edges to shrink before the center, creating stress that warps or cracks the tile; slow, even drying produces flat tiles). 4. Tiles must be fired flat (stack tiles on kiln shelves with kiln wash between; or fire tiles standing on edge in a tile setter; warped tiles cannot be installed properly). 5. Match glaze to clay body (if the glaze expands more than the clay during cooling, it crazes; if it expands less, it shivers; matched expansion produces a durable, crack-free surface). 6. Handmade tiles have character that factory tiles lack (slight variations in color, texture, and dimension give handmade tiles a warmth and personality that mass-produced tiles cannot achieve). 7. Tiles are the most practical pottery product (a single tile installation can use hundreds of tiles; tiles protect walls from water, floors from wear, and roofs from weather; they are endlessly useful). 8. Tile making connects to ancient traditions (decorative tiles have adorned buildings for over 4,000 years; from Islamic geometric patterns to Dutch Delft to Mexican Talavera, tiles carry cultural heritage).