Colours of Athangudi

The tiles are known to last for over a century without losing colour and texture. Nandhini Sundar reports

Asplash of colour greets you as you enter the work centre in the fascinating village of Athangudi near Karaikudi.

On one side of the thatched-roof work centre lie stacks of freshly dried and finished tiles, while on the other, you can see piles of cement and river sand mixture ready to be used with the cans of striking colours: yellow oxide, red, green, blue, black, white, amongst others.

Athangudi tiles, a common feature in the erstwhile grand Chettinad mansions, are known to last for over a century without losing colour and texture, the tiles only increasing in beauty as they age.

The process

Cement-covered hands pull out the selected frame and after placing the cleaned glass on the frame, proceed to dexterously pour the bright colours into the individual slots of the frame. The frame is then shaken to ensure the oxides poured into the slots spread evenly to the thickness of 3 to 4mm.

The dry mixture of cement and fine sand is sprinkled over this to seal the liquid colours. The sprinkling again requires skill as the thickness of the dry mixture not only has to be perfect, but uniform.

The wet mixture of cement and sand is poured over this, sealing the frame fully and finished with a final sprinkling of the dry mixture.

The emerging handmade tile is left to dry in the shade before it is slipped out of its frame and transferred to the soak pit where it is soaked in water for two days.

Though the frame slips out after the initial drying process, the glass continues to be glued to the tile while being soaked in water. The glass finally slips out once the tile is left to sun dry for about a week.

Skilled workforce

Says Ayyappan, proprietor of Jyothi Tile Works, which has been making Athangudi tiles for over seven decades, “Crafting these tiles appears to be a simple process. But there is a lot of work involved. Getting the right proportion in laying the colours and later packing the cement mixture involves skill and years of experience.”

Interestingly, the tiles can also incorporate handmade designs where there is no fixed frame used to mark the design. “Here, the colour is poured freely, and the design emerges by physically drawing the desired pattern with fingers. The designs in every tile would be unique and cannot be replicated,” he explains.

Needless to add, the hand-designed tiles call for even greater skill when compared to the use of a frame. While the frames can also be customised to suit individual leanings, according to Ayyappan, older designs are more popular today as they offer the feel of traditional Chettinad houses.

Colour options

These tiles are an inch thick and do not break easily. The average vitrified tile, in comparison, is only 5mm to 6mm thick and breaks easily, says Ayyappan. “The colours of the tiles do not fade if the formula opted traditionally is followed,” he says, adding, “Green and blue are best avoided in areas exposed to sunlight while other colours do not react to the exposure.”

Incidentally, the traditional dyes used for the colours a century ago were made from vegetable dyes, hence, the hues were far superior. “Today, we have lost the knowledge behind creating the dyes, and currently it is oxides that are being used.”

While making the tile calls for dexterity and experience, the laying of the tile requires equal expertise as it done differently compared to conventional machine-made tiles. “A cement and lime mixture is applied over the concrete while laying the tiles. The appropriate curing of the tiles is imperative and once laid, they require finishing with a final rubbing using a grain mix,” explains Ayyappan.

Further life is breathed into the laid tiles with a thorough swabbing using coconut oil mixed in water. Since the laying requires skill as well as knowledge of the traditional practice, skilled workmen are employed.

Not only do these stunning handmade tiles usher in the traditional beauty and craftsmanship of our skilled village folk, they also prove to be far easier on the pocket, given that the cost per square foot of a magnificent Athangudi tiled floor is approximately Rs. 50.