Medieval tiling - How to do it!

Tiles are made with two different colours of clay. First the tile is formed in brown, and the design is made on a wood-cut. The design is impressed onto the clay and then buff coloured clay is used to infill the design.

---

First slice your block

With a section of clay about three times the desired end product, whack it down to size. Whack don't roll it. The curved side ensures the bat can easily be lifted, Towards the end - when about 3/4 inch thick - the flat can be used.

Make your woodcut

The depth of the cut here is about 3ml. The size of the block will be the size of the finished tile when wet. It will shrink a bit in the firing.


Below are the tools used then and now in the making of tiles.

Place your woodcut centrally under the clay

Under? Yes, drape the clay over the block and whack it a few times to force the clay down into the design. Then turn it over carefully and slice the edges to match the block. 
The last stage is to make a clay edge and pour the cream-consistency buff clay into the mould thus made. Allow to dry and scrape it down until the design appears. Then fire it.