The term "zellige" is also reserved strictly for tilework, while terracotta covers everything from flooring to sculptures to vases. Terracotta is typically fired and glazed just like zellige, but zellige is fired in a traditional olive-pit kiln. They are also heated unevenly to give the tiles natural visual variation.
Terracotta has become a general term for clay tiles and ceramics. The history of terracotta art dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia.
Throughout history, countless cultures have created their own variations of fired pottery. Can you guess the name of its Moroccan variation? If you guessed our favorite handmade zellige tiles, you'd be right! While zellige tiles were popular during the Hispano-Moroccan period, the craft of terracotta making is the precursor to their art. Get a taste of terracotta when you install zellige tiles in your home.
While the name terracotta means "baked earth" in Italian, this brown-orange clay isn't only found in the Mediterranean region. Terracotta can be harvested almost anywhere there's natural clay. Zellige, however, has a more specific source. In order for a clay tile to be considered zellige tiles, the clay must come from the Fez region of Morocco. Master artisans, known as "maâlems," learn the art of zellige tiles as apprentices, and the skill is passed down from generation to generation. Zellige tiles are formed by hand and dried in the hot Moroccan sun, and it's truly a labor of love. Simply put, if it's not from Morocco, it's not zellige!
While zellige tiles are essentially North African terracotta, their appearance differs slightly from typical terracotta styles. While the word "terracotta" brings to mind natural oranges, reds, and browns, pure zellige is more of a creamy tan. The word "zellige" is also strictly reserved for tile products, while terracotta encompasses everything from flooring to sculptures to vases. Terracotta is often fired and glazed like zellige, but zellige is fired in traditional olive pit kilns. They are also heated unevenly, giving the tiles a natural visual variation. In our opinion, no material has as much character as zellige.
