Ceramic tiles surround us at almost every turn. They line the interior and exterior walls and floors of many public buildings, but they are also often found in our own homes. Thanks to their durability and diversity, we encounter them in industrial plants, utilitarian spaces, but also in lavish buildings where they contribute to high-end decoration.

The use of ceramic tiles has been known since antiquity. The oldest evidence is from ancient Egypt, where tiles were used 4000 years before Christ. Other evidence is from ancient Babylon. Ceramic tiles were very popular in the Islamic environment, from which they also reached Europe via North Africa and Spain in the Middle Ages. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Netherlands became famous for the production of glazed tiles, and in the early 19th century industrial production began in England.

At the end of the 19th century, Germany and the Czech lands became the main producers in terms of quantity but above all quality, where many small tile factories were established. Relatively soon, three Czech ceramic factories in Rakovník, Chlumčany and Horní Bříza came to the fore, between which a strong bond was established and in the future they became significant world producers, setting general trends.

The new exhibition at the CSD Plasy shows the development of ceramic tiles based on the production of these three Czech ceramic factories. The visitor will learn about the production processes and techniques of the past, as well as contemporary fashion trends and other influences that were rapidly taking shape in the design of both tiles and tiles.

The exhibition was created in direct cooperation with the RAKO brand, LASSELSBERGER, s.r.o.

The exhibition will run until 31 October 2018.