The Reconstruction Studies is a collection of “tiles” created by artist John Whitmarsh that are either composed of or cast from surprising materials — but the results are stunning. Designed for Sausalito-based Clé, the series comprises five styles with individual character — or, even, history — that make them perfect for cladding focal walls where ordinary tiles, panels or coverings just won’t suffice.
Container Tiles (also shown at top)
The edgy Container Tiles, for instance, are sourced from actual shipping containers. Cut into two-by-nine-inch tiles, the metal units proudly don all the rust stains, dents and dings, scratches and numbering and lettering left over from past lives in the transport industry. And their colors, also original, are vibrant to pack extra punch.
Weathered Steel
A second metal design, Weathered Steel is cut from 1/16-inch-thick steel that sports a variegated patina the artist achieved using acid and wax. The tiles come in 12-, 16- and 24-square-inch formats and are suitable for both wall and floor applications.
Weathered Steel
Mimicking wood in tile isn’t exactly new, but Whitmarsh takes this trend to new heights with three designs in the collection. Board Form may look like wood, but it’s actually composed of gypsum cement that has been hand-cast from salvaged Douglas fir planks. The tiles come in the original plank dimensions, ranging from 2.5 to five inches wide by 24 to 36 inches long. They boast a raw-concrete hue that can be hand-waxed to bring out the rough-hewn texture and can be sealed for extra water resistance. (This design is not recommended for showers, however.)
Board Form
Utility poles are certainly not the most glamorous of wood objects, but the artist found inspiration in them nevertheless. Utility Pole’s designs are cast from old poles found in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco and show all their imperfections and markings. Measuring six by 12 inches, the units feature color variations achieved by the combined use of different clay bodies and colored under-glazes painted onto the insides of the plaster molds themselves.
Utility Pole
Finally, Whitmarsh finds beauty in another utilitarian wood object — roadside guardrail posts — and captures it for End Grain. The old woodgrain in the posts’ tops is cast onto clay that is fired in different temperatures to develop tint variation. Dark wax is then hand-rubbed into the tiles to make the grain patterns pop even more. End Grain comes in a single size of four square inches and in white or brown.
End Grain