$ 30.00
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Normandy Bathhouse 1875 is a remarkable lot of reclaimed French terra cotta flooring salvaged from a historic women's bathhouse along the coast of Normandy, France.
Each handmade square measures approximately 6⅜" x 6⅜" x 1" thick, with the substantial thickness, softened edges and wonderfully irregular surfaces characteristic of 19th-century French terra cotta flooring.
During the 19th century, Normandy's seaside towns became important destinations for sea bathing and the emerging culture of coastal leisure. Bathing developed into an established social ritual, with bathhouses, changing facilities and seaside establishments becoming part of life in fashionable coastal communities.
This particular floor was reclaimed from a traditional bathhouse reserved for women, where these handmade terra cotta tiles endured generations of daily use. Approximately 150 years of footsteps, moisture and wear have gently softened their surfaces, leaving behind the unmistakable patina of an antique floor.
The palette is unusually delicate for reclaimed French terra cotta. Individual tiles move through powdery rose, faded salmon, warm buff, pale ochre, chalky cream and weathered red, punctuated by occasional smoky gray and blue-gray firing variations. Mineral inclusions, pits, irregular edges and subtle differences in texture reveal the handmade character of each tile.
Some tiles are remarkably pale, while others retain deeper rose and earthen tones. Installed together, these variations create a softly variegated floor rather than a field of uniform red—the nuanced coloration that emerges when individually formed and fired tiles are brought together and then allowed to age naturally for generations.
The faded rose, chalky cream, pale ochre and weathered earth tones of Normandy Bathhouse 1875 Reclaimed French Terra Cotta pair beautifully with pale antiqued French oak flooring like our Antiqued French Oak Flooring — The Great House Collection Parisian 19th Century Haussmann-Era: Queen's White. Against the quiet limestone and natural flax tones of the oak, the terra cotta's softened pinks and mineral grays become more apparent. The combination creates a restrained, timeworn palette particularly suited to French country houses, coastal homes and interiors where old materials are allowed to provide the color.
Dimensions: Approximately 6⅜" x 6⅜" x 1" thick
Material: Reclaimed handmade French terra cotta
Region: Normandy, France
Salvage: Former historic women's bathhouse on the Normandy coast
Format: Square
Condition: Antique reclaimed
Sold by the lot: 271 sf
Recommended Sealer after Installation: Akemi Stone Impregnation for French Reclaimed Terra Cotta Tile Flooring
Cleaning and Maintenance: Vacuum, then clean with Black Soap (Savon Noir) to disinfect, maintain, protect and enhance patina.
