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The history of ceramic clay tile dates back as far as the fourth millenium BC where in Egypt tiles were used to decorate various houses. In those days, clay bricks were dried beneath the sun or baked, and the first glazes were blue in color and were made from copper.
As early as 4,000 BC ceramics were also found in Mesopotamia. These ceramics bore decorations which were white and blue striped and later possesed more varied patterns and colors.
In China, the great center of ceramic art, a fine, white stoneware with the earliest Chinese glaze was produced during the Shang-Yin Dynasty (1523-1028 BC).
Through the centuries, clay tile decoration was improved upon as were methods of clay tile manufacture. For example, during the Islamic period, all methods of tile decoration were brought to perfection in Persia. Throughout the known world, in various countries and cities, ceramic clay tile production and decoration reached great heights. The tile mosaics of Spain and Portugal, the floor tiles of Rennaisance Italy, the faiences of Antwerp, the development of tile iconography in the Netherlands, and the ceramic tiles of Germany are all prominent landmarks in the history of ceramic tile.
In the early days, ceramic clay tiles were hand-made - that is to say - each tile was hand-formed and hand-painted, thus each was a work of art in its own right. Ceramic clay tile was used almost everywhere - on walls, floors, ceilings, fireplaces, in murals, and as an exterior cladding on buildings.
Today ceramic tile is almost not "hand-made" or "hand-painted" for the most part. Automated manufacturing techniques are used and the human hand does not enter into the picture until it is time to install the tile.
As in the early days, ceramic tile is still used indoors as well as outdoors. It can be found on floors, walls, counters, fireplaces, fountains, exterior building walls, etc.