Swedish tiles, a young history

Swedish tiles have a young history to say the least. Weak for the cozy factor of wood, it took a long time before the ceramic tiles got a proper foothold in the country. We tell you more about the history of the Swedish tile, design traditions and how we use the tile today.

TILE STOVES IN A NORTHERN CLIMATE

The cold climate in combination with good access to forest are two important reasons why the use and tradition of the tile looked different in Sweden. And no wonder it may seem that the history of Swedish tiles takes its starting point with the tile oven. Since the Middle Ages, we have used tiled stoves as a heat source. For several centuries, together with iron stoves and brick ovens, they became an important part of Swedish homes, which could otherwise get very cold during the winter. Using tiles and clinker for floors and walls was thus out of the question. The thought of a cold and hard surface against the feet was not appealing. The building ceramics were simply not as cozy as the wood and, moreover, very expensive.

During the 18th century, however, interest in ceramics and faience increased in Sweden. The Swedish tiled stoves were given a boost with beautiful imported tiles. Slowly but surely, the tiled stove also became an important part of the interior, and the tile became more and more fashionable, even if the area of ​​use was very limited. For a long time, however, the majority of tiles were imported. From the middle of the 18th century, but especially towards the end of the century, domestic production began to expand.

SWEDISH TILES CHARACTERIZED BY ROCOCON AND ENGLISH TRADITION

The appearance of the Swedish tile has been marked by foreign customs and traditions. With an increased interest in faience and Dutch tiles, many Swedish potters produced tiles imitating these. White-glazed tiles with a blue pattern are one such example, and during the Rococo, floral motifs in different colors became particularly distinctive in Swedish tile production.

After the Rococo, the inspiration instead came from England and well into the 19th century became a role model in terms of both technology and aesthetics for ceramics. Faience with printed decorations was particularly distinctive for the time.

It was mainly towards the middle of the 19th century that independent Swedish and Nordic design of building ceramics began to come to life. Different periods and styles alternated with each other, which we can clearly see in the design of the tile stoves. The motifs were taken from, among other things, the Swedish flora, the great power period and, believe it or not, even the Viking age. Ever since the 18th century, the use of the splash-glazed tile also spread and became a common sight in the Swedish countryside. Monochromatic tiles in brown and yellow were also common. Nor was it unusual for different rooms to be equipped with tiled stoves in different styles.

As the demand for tile stoves increased around the country, domestic production also increased. Towards the end of the 19th century, it is said that roughly sixty tile kiln factories and workshops were active in Sweden.

SWEDISH TILES DURING THE 20TH CENTURY IN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM

It was mainly during the 20th century that Swedish and imported tiles gained an expanded area of ​​use. From a hygienic point of view, there was a clear advantage to using the material for, for example, the home's bathroom or in the basement and hall. The tiles resisted moisture well and were easy to keep clean. And the colors were white, dark green and brown.

From the turn of the century, it was relatively common to use the ceramic building products for bathrooms and kitchens. But tiles were for a long time an expensive building material and something we used very sparingly. In the middle of the 20th century, more and more homes were equipped with tiles in the kitchens as a splash guard. The wood, on the other hand, has had a strong hold on the Swedes and together with other cheaper building materials, the tiles have had to give way.

Today we see an increased interest and use of building ceramics in Swedish homes. It is seen as standard to use for kitchens and bathrooms, but is now also starting to move into new environments. We find inspiration, among other things, from our other European countries with rich tile traditions.

SWEDISH TILE INDUSTRY TODAY

Today, the production of factory-made tiles in Sweden is almost non-existent. The Swedish companies that manufacture and sell tiles have moved production abroad. Also take a look at our range of granite ceramics !