Zellige is a mosaic whose elements, called tesserae, are pieces of colored earthenware tiles. These pieces of glazed terracotta are cut out one by one and assembled on a bed of mortar to form a geometric assembly.
Zellige, used mainly to adorn walls or fountains, is a characteristic component of Arab-Andalusian architecture, present mainly in Morocco, Spain and Algeria.
Today’s Algiers, in their culture and social organization, are the heirs of a rich millennial history, the architecture of the city has been shaped by several architectural phenomena whose styles have marked the Mediterranean.
The Ottoman and Moorish style is indeed what most characterizes the artistic and architectural style of Algiers. Thus, these two styles are found in the ornamental motifs of the palaces or luxurious residences of Algiers. The hand-painted patterns denote a certain refinement that is just waiting to be highlighted.
Fragment of zellige from Tlemcen in Algeria dating from the fourteenth century.
The zellige bears witness to the brilliance of an unequaled urban civilization because it is based above all on rich and lasting economic bases. The precise patterns, the curves, the floral invite both to the luxury of an ever-vivacious civilization and to escape. The shimmering colors predominantly blue recall the Mediterranean and simply pay homage to Algiers.
Zellige is used to cover walls, but also sometimes floors. The tiles used then have a thickness of about 2 cm. Sometimes a square of about 10 × 10 cm with cut corners is then used to be combined with a colored cabochon.
To dress the floors, we also use the bejmat, a rectangular paving stone of about 12 x 4 cm, often laid in a herringbone pattern. The zelliges are fired at low temperature, and are therefore not very resistant. They are not suitable for covering a kitchen worktop or a bathroom floor.
The work of the Algerian Boumehdi family on CNN
Algerian zellige has also inspired the new generation
The Zellige is also part of many modern designs for T-shirts, hoodies and tote bags.
A team of Algerian designers named “Algerian Designers” decided to include zellige in their new 2021 collection. Their creations are available for sale online through their own: shop.
Translated from https://topdestinationsalgerie.com/zellige/
