We’ve long admired the colorful patterns of vintage Portuguese tiles (see Object Lessons: Portuguese Azulejo Tiles Made Modern), so we were surprised to discover that one company handcrafting azulejos in the traditional wayis English. Despite being based in the UK, Everett & Blue‘s method and inspiration comes from centuries of Portuguese tradition: The company sources their clay in Lisbon, draws their designs from the “architecture of Lisbon and Porto, where endless patterns and murals adorn the facades,” and partners with a family-run factory in Portugal to craft the tiles by hand. Here’s a look at some of their designs.
N.B. All of the tiles from the Azul, Verde, and Cinza collections are £4.25 each or £212.50 per square meter; the Cores tiles are £3.29 each or £164.50 per square meter. For shipping information beyond the UK, see Everett & Blue.
Photography courtesy of Everett & Blue.
Above: The inspiration: Antique tiled walls, like this one, in Portuguese cities. “The art is slowly disappearing as factories close and generations of tile artists lose their trade,” Everett & Blue says, but the local artisan-run factory with whom they design the tiles is “trying very hard to keep this beautiful handcraft staying alive by introducing younger generations to the craft.” Everett & Blue offers tiles in three colorways, designed in collaboration with these Portuguese artisans: Azul (blue), Verde (green), and Cinza (gray), plus solid Cores. Above: The tiles are made of red clay from Lisbon and individually hand-cut. Shown here: the Lisboa tile. Above: The clay squares are left to dry for up to three months before being fired. Shown here is another design in the Azul colorway: the Cascais tile. Above: We like the deep blue, symmetric style of the Porto tile. Above: Tiles similar to Everett & Blue’s Alfama design create a richly-hued facade in Portugal. Above: The Alfama tile with round detailing at center. Hand-painting each piece before re-firing “can take a long time and requires very steady hands and precise brushwork,” Everett & Blue says. Above: The Mafra tile, with deeper green tones. Above: The Braga tile in the Verde colorway. Above: The Aveiro design from the Cinza colorway adds subtle detail to a tabletop. Above: The soft color and pattern of the Monchique tile. Above: The Estoril tile in the Cinza colorway. Above: The Aveiro tile. Above: The Azul Escuro tile from the solid Cores collection. Above: The Cinza Simples tile. Above: And the company’s simplest offering, the square white Branco tile.
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