Athangudi Tiles are hand made at Athangudi, a small town in Sivanganga district of Tamilnadu, Southern India. As there was already trade happening between India and the Western countries during the colonial era Western made tiles are popular among the rich and famous of the region. But due to the difficulty in getting a replacement for any damaged tiles or worn out tiles because of usage and the prohibitive cost to arrange them they decided to make their own tiles and the ‘Athangudi Tiles’ were born. Majority of the population of the town of Athangudi are involved in creating these exclusive tiles. The craft of making the hand made tiles are passed from generation to generation. The tiles are much cherished by the erstwhile rulers of the region and also the colonial rulers. The tiles are rich in colour and intricate in design. The timeless designs are an influence of the culture and heritage of people of Karaikudi famously known as Chettinad which has been declared a heritage town by the Tamilnadu Government. As a pride of their origin almost all the Chettinad households use these tiles for their homes.
As the world moves towards sustainability in every aspect of life, be it solar and wind energy, organic fertilizers, recycling and so on, Athangudi Tiles comes as a fresh breadth in designing home interiors due to its sustainable and eco friendly process of manufacturing. Unlike ceramic, vitrified and marble tiles Athangudi Tiles are not machine made. The entire tile making process is handmade which makes it uniquely different which should appeal to any one looking to contribute to the environmental cause. By using these tiles you help sustain the slowly dying art and the cottage industry around it.
The Tiles are a mixture of cement, coloured oxide and locally available sand. The sand is the unique part of the tile as it gives the smoothness as the tile ages. First a glass is placed below and a wooden frame is set above the glass for the required size. An iron stencil with the requisite design or pattern in kept within the wooden frame. Then different coloured oxide is poured in the stencil mould. The stencil is now taken out and the design with colours remains on the glass bordered by the wooden frame. The local sand, which is the unique ingredient, is sprinkled and spread on top of the design and kept for drying. Cement and sand mortar is layered on top as a final step. It is then cured with water for 10-15 days as required and the wooden frame is removed. Once dry, the glass plate comes off the bottom exposing the beautiful design. Left over moisture is removed with husks placed on top of the exposed surface. The rugged sides are smoothened and the authentic Athangudi Tiles are ready to use. Because of the end to end manual process only about 100 sq.ft of tiles are made each day.
The entire process is hand made piece by piece. The important thing in the process is getting the right proportion mix of raw materials. If the mix is not proportionate then the tiles doesn’t get the shine over a period of time as it is supposed to get, cracks appear easily, wear and tear will be fast.
What makes Sendhur Tiles stands apart is the perfection it has achieved over the decades of experience to get the right proportion mix of cement, sand, oxides and other aggregates to make the tiles more sturdy, long standing and mature over time to give the perfect look.
Since the process of making each tile is meticulous so is the laying of the tiles. It also varies in thickness compared to machine made tiles hence the floor depth should be more. Thus it is suggested to employ a mason who has prior experience in laying this type of tiles. On the other we can help you in arranging for a skilled mason from Karaikudi to come and lay the tiles as per your requirements.
Designs and colours can be chosen from numerous available patterns or can be customized as per customer taste or their interior decor. The patterns can be geometrical, floral, abstract and colours generally bright and also sober. Alangudi oxide tiles require limited maintenance. The tile become more smooth and shiny over a period of time and more usage. Daily cleaning and few drop of coconut oil once in while makes it shiny and neat. Predominantly the tiles are used for flooring but can also be used as wall tiles with proper care taken while fixing.
Ideally, because of its rustic look and feel, these tiles are most appealing if it is set in an antique décor or a colonial type villa, an ethnic village themed resort. Plain rust coloured tiles, with a floral border, matching with antique wooden furniture pieces completes the setting of a living room. Floral designs for the bedroom, abstract for the dining and kitchen, geometric pattern for the study completes the setting inspiring guests and visitors alike. Athangudi Tiles helps your interior stand out compared to machine made tiles which is a common sight and not even getting noticed by visitors due to its mundane shades and colours. Any interior which has an old world setting is not complete without Athangudi tile flooring which in many cases will be a talking point with your guests.
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