History
Geometric and encaustic tiles first appeared in the 1860s. At first they were found only in prestigious public buildings such as churches, as well as in the more expensive villas of the time. Being favoured among the rich almost guaranteed their inevitable mass popularity, and for the next century they would retain their popularity among public and ecclesiastical buildings while being adopted by less affluent private residences as well. During the 1960s and 1970s, they began to fall out of fashion, especially among private residences, and many floors using geometric and encaustic tiling were covered over.
Now recently they have started to be uncovered, and are slowly returning to fashion once more. Despite having been covered over, almost all floors made of such tiling are easily repairable and can be returned to their former glory with little effort or expenses.

Plain Geometric Tiles
The tiles that are now so well known for characterising church floors and the floors of Victorian villas are made through a fairly simple process. Made from clay, these tiles are noted for their perfectly square shapes – in fact, it is this aspect of them that always ensures that the floors they make will be very flat. It wasn’t uncommon to find several different tile manufacturers’ tiles on one floor, so specific were the specifications by which they were made. Notoriously durable, the fact that many covered floors are being uncovered in a repairable condition a century on just goes to show what these tiles can go through.

Encaustic Tiles
Encaustic tiles are very similar to traditional geometric tiles, but are noted for their patterns. They are created using a medieval method of layering clay to give the effect of different patterns on a single tile, a technique re-invented by Herbert Minton. Of course, you can create patterns by a strategic laying of different coloured plain geometric tiles, but encaustic tiles, being patterned themselves, allow for even more elaborate visual patterns on a well laid floor.

Style and Durability
As you have read, these were the height of popularity a century ago, so they carry that traditional, rustic feeling that you don’t find with more modern tiles. They clearly do not suit rooms with otherwise ultramodern furniture in them, but should you be opting for that rustic look, you’ll find that few flooring tiles are as effective at offering it as geometric and encaustic tiles. They are also noted for their durability, and many of the very first tiles laid down are still in near perfect condition a century later.

So if you want to create a look that is elegant, individual and durable, Victorian tile could be your solution.