The Journey of Creation
"The satisfaction comes through the use of every part of oneself, hand and eye, brain and intuition, and through being always in contact with natural materials and the power of earth, air, fire and water. … It is, in fact, a voyage of discovery into the very heart of things. How lucky we are."
Marianne de Trey Dartington ceramicist
Origins in Time
Alchemy Tiles revives the ancient craft of inlaid tiles, known traditionally as encaustic, a technique that has endured for centuries. Each tile is individually hand-carved, never painted, with inspiring poetry, meaningful quotes, and symbolic imagery etched directly into the clay.
The origins of inlay stretch back over a thousand years, though its true beginnings are lost to time. The technique flourished in the 13th century, adorning palaces, churches, and sacred spaces. These were not decorative surfaces alone, they were statements of permanence, designed to endure for generations.
Today, that same enduring process is brought into contemporary homes and interiors. Any shape, size, or space can be thoughtfully designed, from a single meaningful tile to full kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms, fireplaces, and architectural installations.
Because of the intricate, multi-stage nature of the process, no two tiles can ever be replicated. Each one passes through many careful stages of carving, inlay, drying, glazing, and firing. The result is entirely bespoke, shaped by hand, transformed by fire, and created to last.
For Designers & Architects
Alchemy Tiles can be specified for both residential and commercial interiors, with each tile hand-cut to suit the precise dimensions of a project. For full specification details, lead times, and installation information, please visit the Interiors page.
View Interiors & Specification
The Visual Journey
My Journey Before I Came To Be In Your Hands
I have been rolled and my shape cut by hand,
Then using ancient techniques from far across lands,
My image and script hand carved in wet clay,
With wisdom and poetry to inspire you each day.
All different colours of clay then applied,
To fill in those carvings and then left to dry,
Then to be scraped and my design now revealed,
To be dried once again before I’m then sealed.
In a coating of glaze with a crackle for show,
Then fired raw, so long and so slow.
So fragile and delicate at each stage I must be,
Until I transform in the fires that embrace me.
When I emerge, still warm to the touch,
A stain is wiped over, a little, not much.
And then I am ready to be held in your hands,
With magic and tales from far across lands.
Images, quotes and poetry sublime,
All held eternal, in earth and in time.
Poem by Mel Chambers
The Journey Continues
From fire and form to the space it will one day call home, every tile begins with intention.
When you’re ready, explore the different ways your own story can be shaped in clay, from individual meaningful pieces to full bespoke interiors.
