Art Deco Tiles

Book excerpt: Art Deco was arguably the twentieth century's most popular and memorable design movement, and has come to define the inter-war period with its clean sleek lines, streamlined shapes, bold abstract forms and bright colours. Art Deco Tiles charts the impact of this daring new style on the production of tiles and architectural faience in Britain: it shows how they were made and decorated, examines the output of firms like Carter, Pilkington's and Doulton, and describes the innovations introduced by creative designers like Edward Bawden and Dora Batty. With photographs of the work individually and in situ in buildings and homes, the author examines the diverse range of animal, floral, human and abstract Art Deco designs.