Behold, the Tile

While in Fes we visited a pottery and mosaic cooperative. The sign is so unassuming compared to what's inside. Mind you, this is just a small factory and a retail store. But oh, what they make is so beautiful.

There is an oven (not pictured) for firing and glazing tiles like these. 

All the beautiful hand-cut tiles that are used for mosaic have to be hand cut by, well, by hands. The shapes are so meticulous and I don't know how the artisans who cut the tile do it so perfectly. Well, actually I kind of know, because they showed us. There are patterns of the various shapes needed for the various mosaics that are being made, and each tile is cut to precisely the shape and size of the pattern. All by hand. Amazing.

This is the backside of a mosaic table, still in process. Once completed, the back is covered with fiberglass to keep everything in place. And then it's shipped off to someone who will hopefully treasure it always.

I found this place remarkable for the sheer variety of mosaic patterns, mostly in tables and fountains. Loving tile and mosaic as I do, I felt like I was in a tile candy store. Everything was so pretty, so inspiring, and I wanted it all. I left with memories, inspiration, and a lot of photos. I don't have anything to say about the pictures that follow of some of the mosaic projects we saw in this shop; I think they speak for themselves so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the tile.