Hans van Lemmen

5000 Years of Tiles is the essential, single-volume colour compendium of tile art and production around the world, from ancient times to the present day.

Art Deco was arguably the twentieth century's most popular and memorable design movement, and has come to define the inter-war period with its clean sleek lines, streamlined shapes, bold abstract forms and bright colours. Art Deco Tiles charts the impact of this daring new style on the production of tiles and architectural faience in Britain: it shows how they were made and decorated, examines the output of firms like Carter, Pilkington's and Doulton, and describes the innovations introduced by creative designers like Edward Bawden and Dora Batty. With photographs of the work individually and in situ in buildings and homes, the author examines the diverse range of animal, floral, human and abstract Art Deco designs.

At the turn of the last century, Art Nouveau, characterised by its richly ornamental curvilinear design and use of sinuous line and vibrant colour, held sway as the dominant style in architecture and design - a style that defined the Edwardian period, with its departure from more formal Victorian styles. This book charts the impact of this sensuous new style on the tile industry in Britain, showing how tiles were made and decorated, and using photographs of tiles, individually and in situ, to examine the diverse range of floral, animal and human subject matter found on Art Nouveau tiles that make them now so appealing to collectors and design historians.