With few exceptions, only a sample will tell you if the color you are looking for will work in your project.
We are happy to send samples. Please ask, either through the Contact Us page or by phone.
Each sample is glazed and fired to order. This process takes a few days, sometimes longer, depending on the shop schedule.
Samples can be of the glazes on the website, or solid colors you do not see on the website. When you need uniform single color glazes, we only need a description of the colors or a color sample to aim for. We have hundreds of solid colors not pictured in the website. If you have questions, please call or email.
Glazes are brushed onto all samples, with few exceptions. This can result in a somewhat uneven surface. These samples should be used for color selection primarily.
Samples are on handmade sample tiles, about 2" to 4" in length and width, square or irregular, about 3/16" thick. These sample tiles are of the same ceramic material used for most of our handmade tile, and the same thickness as a typical field tile, but are not as square, flat, or imperfection-free as a production tile. Please use the samples to assess color and the character of the tile body (unless noted otherwise), not for edge quality, flatness, or other imperfections.
Ordering samples:
1. Samples are $3 each, plus shipping. The first three samples are at no charge (except hex and other mosaic tiles).
2. You may wish us to select some glazes for you, since we can see the colors best at our end and we always have glazes not posted in the website. We suggest that you specify a "Not To Exceed" amount for the samples and shipping, and we will select the glazes that seem to best match your requirements. (For instance, you may want "satin or matte finish, lemon yellow," with a NTE of $20.) A NTE of $20, for instance, will be about 4 samples plus shipping. We will charge less if we have fewer samples to send.
3. An invoice for sample requests requiring payment will be emailed to you, allowing online payment via credit card. PayPal and paper check are also fine.
4. Payment is required before shipment. If you give the go-ahead, payment will be requested when the tiles are ready to ship.
5. If you need a sample of a full-sized tile, the pricing will be at least the same as a finished tile order, and may be as high as the order dollar minimum. Pricing may be higher if setup (such as a mold) is required. Fullsize single tiles are only recommended if the design process has already passed key approval steps, like glaze and order size.
