Artistic cobblestone found on tiles

A young artisan fascinated by the artistic coblestone in Portugal decided to photograph it and add it to another Portuguese art - the azulejo.*

This cobblestone patterns are mainly done using limestone and basalt, although other coloured stones were used in the past in special areas.

The main expanse of the pavement is of white limestone and the designs are made in black using the basalt stone. The handmade pavements were signed by the cobbler and you have to look for its signature disguised in the design.

The cobbler works with sand as bedding to the uneven stones and stone powder in between them to hold the design together and guarantee an even seam between them.

Each stone is chipped to form the pattern and fit snuggly next to its neighbour stone.

The cobbler can form curved surfaces to encircle a tree, straight lines for a passageway for pedestrians or bikes, or an intricate or complex design such as the name of the owner of a house at its front door.

The 25mm x 25mm cobblestones which stonemasons chip away from large stone blocks are perfect to create hundreds of designs.

These have served as paving for large public areas in Portugal and all  Portuguese speaking countries around the world, from the late 19th century to this day.

This Azulejo Collection is hand painted by an artisan of Coimbra.

* Portuguese wall tile, predominantly two-toned but can also be multi-coloured