Moroccan Tiles

Moroccan tiles, also called the zellige, is a Moroccan-Andalusian architecture which has truly adapted to contemporary decorating styles while maintaining an artisanal production.

The zellige is a technique that allows the manufacture of mosaics by assembling small pieces of ceramic bound by cement.

 The main feature of zellige is that the drawings are executed in reverse. The mosaics are used for decorating the mosques, fountains, houses and furniture and more.


Appeared in Morocco in the tenth century in shades of white and brown, the art of Moroccan tiles developed in the fourteenth century under the reign of Merinids with the use of green and yellow. The red was used only on the seventeenth century.

The antique furnishings natural colors were used until the end of the twentieth century and the colors had probably not evolved much since the time of Merinids. Today, the palette of tiles was particularly enriched in bright colors.


The raw material for making ceramic tile is gray clay. It is present in the vicinity of Fez.

 It is mixed with water in tanks for a week to obtain a homogeneous whole.

This paste is then poured into templates (wooden molds) for the clay tiles that are dry for several days in the sun.


One side of the clay tile is dipped in color and then dried face against face before going to cooking for eight hours. The ovens are made of two parts: the home and the cooking chamber. The walls of the oven are made from clay and straw.

The fuel used is olive to start the oven and then pressed olive waste from oil mills is a catalyst (is a substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction). The temperature can climb well up to 1200 ° C. The floor of the cooking chamber is located above the firebox and is pierced with holes for the diffusion of heat.

 Clay tiles are arranged in several floors.

At the first floor are the cool colors (white, blue, beige) and halfway up the yellow, green and finally red at the top.

The cooking chamber is then closed by a door sealed with clay.

 Once baked the color tiles has taken its final color and became resplendent with silica.

Ceramic tiles are now ready to be used for zellige.

Making the Mosaic:

Designers prepare the drawings that serve as models for zellige moallims. These drawings also explain the different forms in the ceramic cutting (square, star, diamond, round shape, ...). The cutout shapes is done by workers. The first trace the drawings on the tile using a small brush.

The second blank form using a special hammer and finally the third is finishing in the truncation. In general, the shape of a piece of pottery is associated with a color for a model. This allows zellige maalims to identify color because they work in reverse. For models where multiple colors can be combined to form, they paint the bottom end of ceramic to locate.


Firstly, the zellige maallims must make the mold or part of its model on the ground. This framework is generally made of iron.

Then the installation forms depending on the model to achieve.

The ends are held together by a thin layer of cement in the first place.

Once the work is completed, the cement is poured on the zellige which are embedded iron bars used to strengthen the whole.

Once dried, it remains only to return all! For large parts such as doors of mosques, are cut into several numbered pieces in the mosaic which they will gather once at the location just like a puzzle.

The color is achieved by a mixture of metal ore and silica to be cooked in an oven for several hours.

 Depending on the ore used, the final color will be different. For example, blue is obtained with cobalt.

 Once cooked, the mixture is combined with water to obtain a smooth paste.

Moroccan tiles are still a very architectural element, it is present in our homes, our furniture, mosques, fountains. Oldest Moroccan tiles are in the Medina of Fez. The zellige is what makes the best reputation of Moroccan architectures because it is still made the traditional way.

If you are looking to buy Moroccan tiles then you have three option.

The first is to have the parts, according to your preference and measurement, made in Morocco and delivered to you.

This if you can afford the price and the time it will take.

The second is to buy parts already made such as mosaic doors, mosaic table and other accessories.

The last choice is to buy company manufactured Moroccan tiles that look similar to the original.


This is really what the majority in Morocco use due to its low price.

Looking for Moroccan Tiles? Check out my Moroccan Art Store!

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