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Books Reviewed

Handmade Tiles by Frank Giorgini

Handmade Tiles:
Designing, Making, Decorating

by Frank Giorgini

US Edition
Lark Books, 1994
ISBN 0-937274-76-3
144 pages
$24.95

UK Edition
David & Charles, 1995
ISBN 0-7153-0338-4
144 pages
£17.99

Summary

Handmade Tiles is an excellent overview of the many facets of making tile in the studio environment. The author makes a good balance between a how-to textbook and a photo gallery. A worthwhile addition to the tile maker's library.

Favorite Feature: Uniformly excellent photography enhancing the descriptions of techniques and illustrating the work of contemporary tile makers.

Room For Improvement: Some topics (e.g. controlling warping, and using computers in tile design) are treated so broadly that the information is too general to be very useful.

The Review

Frank Giorgini provides professional ceramists, hobbyists and the general public with a valuable tool in Handmade Tiles. He covers all three parts of the book's sub-title clearly and concisely in a well produced and attractive book.

The book begins with a chapter titled "The Handcrafted Tradition in Ceramic Tiles" written by Joseph Taylor (president of the Tile Heritage Foundation), where he provides historical context for the practical and artistic information to come.

Fifteen chapters follow that cover:

Getting Started
Making a Flat Tile
Making Tile Models for Open-Face Press Molds
Making and Using Open-Face Press Molds
Carved Plaster Blocks, Tile Presses, and Extruders
Surface Decoration on Unfired Tiles
Firing To Hardness
Surface Decoration on Bisqued Tiles
Glaze Firing, Overglazes, and Decals
Mosaics
Tile Design
Installation
Making Your Own Tools and Equipment
The Day of One Hundred Tiles
Health and Safety

Giorgini concludes with appendicies covering various technical details of firing, a few recipes, and a very valuable directory of contact information for the artists whose work helps make this book such a delight to read.

There are enough different techniques provided thoughout the book that it would take a lifetime to fully explore all the possbile combinations. The level of technical detail in each chapter does vary. No topic is belabored but some are covered with a broad brush.

A couple of notable inclusions:

-A set of plans for a simple tile press that will press tiles up to 4" x 4". The plans are easy to follow and result in a press that works well for a very modest investment. The press can be built by anyone with a reasonable facility with woodworking tools, and from personal experience I can attest to the fact that it works well. In fact, all of the tips, tools and techniques I've tried from this book have worked out well.

-The "Day of One Hundred Tiles" chapter provides insight into how proper planning affects the output from your studio.

I gleaned many other nuggets of information from this book, and I'm sure other readers have their own lists of the best tips. A tile maker at any level will likely find this book a valuable addition to their library.

About the Author:

(from the dust jacket, UK Edition)
Frank Giorgini is an artist, teacher, and author who lives in New York State. His work is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, in galleries and collections throughout the United States, and in private and commercial establishments. His company, UDU®, Inc. also produces an all-clay musical instrument called the UDU Drum, which is used by leading percussionists around the world.

Reviewed by: Tom Colson

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