*handmade belgian reproduction features inherent imperfections in color, size, textural variation
belgian reproduction

belgian reproduction | flemish ink | terracotta | circle

" x  " x  "

Flemish Ink

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a clé heritage tile

clé heritage are artisan tiles that carry the mark of a skilled artisan with each tile embodying variation in tone and surface. these tiles are to be treasured for their hand hewn quality and require a skilled installer.

*handmade belgian reproduction features inherent imperfections in color, size, textural variation
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sample

$10.00/piece

full tile order

start your project

$ 32.10/sqft

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in stock | ships from warehouse within 10 business days

calculate your project

sqft needed

industry standard suggests adding at least 15% overage due to tile cuts, potential breakage, or future repairs

0

total sqft

$ 32.1 /sqft

0

total boxes

$ 119.10 /box


$0.00

subtotal

0 total pieces

important: we prize our belgian reproduction tiles for their variation and surface imperfections, which are a result of the hand mixed nature of their clay body, further enhanced during the firing process. noticeable variations in thickness, size, shade and color (including red clay inclusions) are to be expected.

all tile should be blended before installation, and a grout joint size of at least ½” must be used to compensate for size variation. should you find extreme variations in length between the pieces of your order, particularly with bundles, we recommend increasing or decreasing the grout joint size as needed within your installation to compensate and create a cohesive look.

note: should you want to attempt a grout joint smaller than our recommended 1/2" with your project, keep in mind that additional tiles will need to be ordered (outside of our normal 15% overage recommendation) as our checkout calculations for this collection incorporate a grout joint size of 1/2".

minimum order of 14 sqft

product specifications

technical specifications

non freeze thaw resistant icon

non freeze thaw resistant

radiant heating compatible icon

radiant heating compatible

uv resistant icon

uv resistant

heat resistant icon

heat resistant

stove backsplash icon

stove backsplash

sink backsplash icon

sink backsplash

exterior floor icon

exterior floor

interior floor icon

interior floor

heavy commercial icon

heavy commercial

heavy residential icon

heavy residential

interior wall icon

interior wall

exterior wall icon

exterior wall

fireplace surround icon

fireplace surround

shower floor + wall icon

shower floor + wall

steam shower floor + wall icon

steam shower floor + wall

* see material guidelines guide for specific requirements

description
rating
surface type
unglazed

finish type
unfinished

level 5: extreme

level 3: medium

level 4: extreme

level 2: medium

level 2: prevalent

dimensions
" x  " x  "
water absorption
avg. 14.0%; non-vitreous

dcof
avg.0.81

Pieces per sqft
2.7 pcs/sqft

Weight per sqft
6.75 lbs

Pieces per box
10 pcs/box

calculated using clé's recommended grout joint size of 1/2"

read before you buy this tile

do i need to seal belgian reproduction tiles?

belgian reproduction tiles are highly porous and should be sealed as the final step of installation for all applications (dry and wet) to maintain their appearance and avoid staining. both the tile surface and grouted areas should be sealed.

please note that we only recommend laticrete sealers with this collection.

for more information about sealing please see our belgian reproduction material guidelines.

do you offer trim for your belgian reproduction tile?

at clé we follow the international model of no trim and highly recommend our clients to do the same. below are the trim alternatives we recommend for this collection.

- if your project needs to turn a corner either inwardly or outwardly, mitering the tiles to meet seamlessly in a corner gives it the cleanest, crafted finish.

- a visible tile edge can be honed/polished/sanded to make the side match the main surface of the tile.

- like with any of our tiles, you can also build out the sheetrock so that the surface of the finished sheetrock is flush with the surface of the tile.

for more detailed recommendations about trim, please see our trim guide.

how do i take care of my belgian reproduction tiles?

over time, a natural patina will occur on floors as they are maintained and naturally wear.

mild, ph neutral soaps should be sufficient for most cleaning—test before general use. for all other maintenance, clé recommends laticrete cleaning products.

see our belgian reproduction material guidelines for more information.

what type of finish should i expect with this collection?

belgian reproduction tiles are highly porous unglazed tiles with medium texture variation.

what types and levels of variation and imperfections should i expect?

we prize our belgian reproduction tiles for their variation and surface imperfections, which are a result of the hand mixed nature of their clay body, further enhanced during the firing process. there will be variations in thickness, size, texture, shade and color (including red clay inclusions in flemish black and ink) across production lots or batches.

tiles may be exposed to moisture and/or condensation during production or shipping which may affect the color of the tiles once received. setting tiles out to dry prior to installation will return the color to normal.

due to the natural materials and production process of belgian reproduction tiles, there will be degrees of variation in color, shade and size in your order, therefore it is important to blend the tiles from all boxes once they arrive and place them in their installation area to ensure you have the layout you want before installing.

variation and imperfection ratings:

belgian reproduction tiles are rated 'level 5 extreme' for color variation, 'level 3 medium' for texture variation, 'level 4 extreme' for size variation, and 'level 2 prevalent' for chips and cracks.

see illustrations in the technical specifications section above, and read more about the ratings in our tile variation and imperfections guide.

how will my belgian reproduction tile samples compare to my actual order?

as noted in the variation and add on orders sections of our faq, color and size variation between production batches of belgian reproduction tiles, in addition to variation from tile to tile, is to be expected given the 

handcrafted nature of the product. this means that your sample may not be a perfect match with your actual order, and that your add-on order may not be a perfect match to either.
 
why do you suggest i order at least 15% more than my measurements?

industry standard suggests adding at least 15% overage due to tile cuts, potential shipping breakage, or future repairs.

note that due to the raw materials and firing methods used to create belgian reproduction tiles, your order will have a percentage of tiles greater than 15% with cracks and chipping to their clay body.

if these imperfections do not fit your project’s needs we recommend ordering 20-30% overage. this allows your contractor to cherry-pick these imperfections from your order.

for more information related to ordering and shipping, please be sure to visit our shipping and returns and delivery information resource pages.

grout

clé recommends a ½" grout joint with this collection. should you find extreme variations in length between the pieces of your order, particularly with bundles, we recommend increasing or decreasing the grout joint size as needed within your installation to compensate and create a cohesive look.

clé recommends using mortar and sanded cementitious grout that comply with the ANSI A118 or ISO 13007 classifications suitable for your project. Please consult with your installation professional to make these determinations.

grout color selection is always up to our client and/or their design professional. however, clé is often asked for our opinion on best grout selections for our tiles. and due to the large array of grout colors that are now available, clé would like to offer this general guideline on a foolproof grout color selection for any of your clé tiles. first, have your professional tile contractor complete your tile installation, except for the grout portion. next, when ready to grout, ask your contractor to bring all grout color charts from his preferred grout manufacturers, for your review. lastly, choose a time of day when you are most pleased with the lighting in your space (either natural lighting, installed lighting or a blend of both). during that lighting and time of day, select the grout color that best matches your tile selection.

for more information about grouting please see our belgian reproduction material guidelines.

collection dimensions

rectangle - 2"x8"x3/4"
 hex - 8"x9"x3/4"
 star - 7 3/4"x8"x3/4"
 square - 8"x8"x3/4"
 circle - 8"x8"x3/4"
 cross - 6"x9"x3/4"
 losange - 4 3/4"x6"x3/4"

disclaimer: please note all dimensions are nominal. additionally, dimensions between tiles can vary +/- 1/2 inch.

refined rusticity

exquisite, wood-fired tiles

clé has lovingly restored a modest form of terracotta production, only this time, substituting the standard terracotta with the most exquisite flemish ink. these wood-fired tiles are a concert of variations, both surface and shade. we prize our belgian reproduction tiles for their variation and surface imperfections, which are a result of the hand mixed nature of their clay body, further enhanced during the firing process. noticeable variations in thickness, size, shade and color are all part of the handcrafted look and feel.

design: liz robinson / photo: john buckley architecture

why we love belgian reproduction

we’ve long admired the grand courtyards of northern europe, the patinas and refined rusticity of belgian design. we have been on a quest to find a tile that would echo these elements and would look equally good both indoors and out. we discovered this exquisite clay, and took a restored form of terracotta to create these belgian reproduction tiles perfect for grounding projects with an austerity as striking as an antique belgian surface.

design: lisa schmitz interior / photo: mike sinclair

a devotion to terracotta

a humble clay, traditional terracotta requires few alterations and in its best form goes almost straight from the earth into the kiln. the new wave of terracotta honors the traditional forms of terracotta production by using it as a canvas for more artistic tile endeavors. our belgian reproduction collection does just that, by reinvigorating the traditional terracotta techniques for today's designs.

design: jake arnold / photo: jenna peffley