terra-cotta tile

Terra-cotta is a type of fired clay, often unglazed, used for various purposes including statuettes, vases, and architectural elements like roofing and ornamentation. It is a coarse, porous clay that turns a color ranging from ochre to red when fired. Historically, terra-cotta has been a versatile, durable, and inexpensive material.12

In building construction, terra-cotta is also known as structural clay tile. These are larger units with hollow spaces, often used as backing for brickwork or for partitions. It can be glazed for exposed finishes and is also used for wall and floor tiles, as well as quarry tiles for areas requiring resistance to abrasion or acids. The use of terra-cotta in architecture dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, and it saw a revival in 15th-century Italy and Germany for decorative elements.32