$ 30.00
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Salvaged from the original storefront floor of a 19th-century dairy farm and fromagerie in Brittany, France, these reclaimed French terra cotta tiles carry the unmistakable character of a working French farmhouse floor.
The family raised their own cows on the property, using the fresh milk to produce traditional French cheeses that were then sold directly from the farm's adjoining storefront. These terra cotta tiles paved the floor where generations of customers once came to purchase the cheeses made on the property.
More than 150 years of age and use have softened the tiles naturally. Their surfaces reveal worn edges, gentle undulations, small pits, mineral inclusions and irregular markings that could only have developed through traditional firing and decades of foot traffic.
Unlike the stronger orange and red tones often associated with southern French terra cotta, this reclaimed Breton floor has an unusually subtle, mineral-rich palette.
Individual tiles move through shades of dusty rose, faded salmon, muted brick red, pale ochre, warm taupe, soft gray and weathered cream. Occasional darker firing marks and charcoal-colored inclusions interrupt the softer tones.
Laid together, these variations create a beautifully quiet patchwork rather than a uniform field of color.
The pale and almost chalky tiles are particularly important to the overall appearance of the floor. They temper the reds and roses, giving the installation the faded quality of an old European interior that has evolved naturally over generations. This tile lot pairs especially wtih with our
Small imperfections in the clay, irregular edges, firing variation, surface abrasions and traces of more than a century of use remain visible. These characteristics are not artificially distressed into the material—they are part of the history of the floor itself. The result is an antique French terra cotta floor with depth and variation, particularly suited to interiors that desire an historic European home.
Origin: Brittany, France
Date: Circa 1875
Material: Reclaimed French Terra Cotta
Format: Square
Dimensions: Approximately 6⅜" × 6⅜" × ⅞"
Age: Approximately 150 Years
Salvage: Historic Dairy Farm & Fromagerie Storefront
In-Stock Lot: 232 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.
