Back then, Nawal Motawi, an artistic young woman from a small town in west. Michigan had strong ... recently received he
2018 ART TILE CATALOG
AB O U T US
Motawi Tileworks, Ann Arbor.
NAWAL MOTAWI
Humble Beginnings
Nawal is the founder, owner and principal designer of Motawi Tileworks. With her team of designers and craftsmen, she creates handmade, historically informed art tile for installations and as art pieces.
Motawi Tileworks was born in a small garage in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1992. Back then, Nawal Motawi, an artistic young woman from a small town in west Michigan had strong opinions about how things should be done. She had recently received her degree in ceramics from the University of Michigan and had spent the next few years at the storied Pewabic Pottery in Detroit learning the art of tile making. It was after her time there when she set out on her own to begin a Tileworks which created handmade tiles with designs that are historically-inspired and are often borrowed from the natural world. Today, the name Motawi is recognized nationwide for its beautiful handcrafted artisan tile.
THE MOTAWI NAME Nawal’s father, Kamal El-Din Hussein Motawi, was born in Egypt, where Motawi is a common surname.
OUR STAFF Motawi tile and Motawi clay are made in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by conscientious and humor-loving people. The Motawi crew works every day to enrich people’s lives with their positive energy and beautiful tiles.
THE ROVIN CONNECTION On the cover A collage of Charley Harper designs, including 4475 4x8 Blue Jay, 4470 4x4 Cardinal, 4474 BL 4x4 Gregarious Grosbeaks (Blue), and 4874 4x8 Headbanger, combined with our installation field tile.
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In 2011, Motawi acquired its clay supplier, Rovin Ceramics, which continues to provide clay and raw material to the Tileworks and ceramic artists across the country.
MOTAWI TILEWORKS
A lhambra
4488 BR ■ 4x4 Alhambra (Brown) NEW
4488 PW ■ 4x4 Alhambra (Periwinkle) NEW
4488 OV ■ 4x4 Alhambra (Olive) NEW
4 x4 F LORALS
Glazing Art Tile 4496 RD ■ 4x4 Lizzie (Red)
4496 OR ■ 4x4 Lizzie (Orange)
4498 RD ■ 4x4 Lotus (Red)
4498 BL ■ 4x4 Lotus (Blue)
4414 GB ■ 4x4 Dard Rose (Grey Blue)
4414 TU ■ 4x4 Dard Rose (Turquoise)
4496 BL ■ 4x4 Lizzie (Blue)
Motawi’s Art Tile decorators are affectionately referred to as “Bee Gees,” short for “bulb glazers,” because they use bulb syringes to pool glaze onto the tiles. In this centuriesold technique called cuenca, colored areas are separated by the tiny ridges of clay that are formed in the pressing process. As one can imagine, it takes patience, focus, and steady hands to be a good bulb glazer!
4496 OR ■ 4x4 Lizzie (Orange)
4409 TU ■ 4x4 Rosie O’Grady (Turquoise)
4409 RD ■ 4x4 Rosie O’Grady (Red)
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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4 X 4 ANIM ALS
4432 LB ■ 4x4 Dragonfly (Light Blue)
4432 GR ■ 4x4 Dragonfly (Green)
4432 TU ■ 4x4 Dragonfly (Turquoise)
4438 LB ■ 4x4 Turtle (Light Blue)
4431 LB ■ 4x4 Bee (Light Blue)
4431 GR ■ 4x4 Bee (Green)
4439 GR ■ 4x4 Butterfly (Green)
4439 TN ■ 4x4 Butterfly (Tangerine)
4433 GO ■ 4x4 Owl (Green Oak)
4433 GW ■ 4x4 Owl (Grey White)
4434 LB ■ 4x4 Frog (Light Blue)
4434 GR ■ 4x4 Frog (Green)
4896 RD ■ 4x8 Peony (Red)
4892 LB ■ 4x8 Sunflower (Light Blue)
4887 IN ■ 4x8 Iris (Indigo)
4 X 8 F lorals
4896 PB ■ 4x8 Peony (Pale Blue)
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MOTAWI TILEWORKS
4 X8 Animals
4859 BE ■ 4x8 Lovebirds (Berry)
4859 GO ■ 4x8 Lovebirds (Green Oak)
4855 MD ■ 4x8 Loon (Midnight)
4808 TU ■ 4x8 Callie (Turquoise)
4809 TU ■ 4x8 Monarch (Turquoise)
4854 TU ■ 4x8 Speedy Bonito (Turquoise)
4807 TU ■ 4x8 Swallowtail (Turquoise)
4806 TU ■ 4x8 Alexandra (Turquoise)
Our Legacy Frame (wider style) is constructed of 3" quartersawn oak in a classic Arts & Crafts style. The frame is beveled, with mitered corners and biscuit joints and comes in Craftsman Oak finish only. Legacy Frames are available in single and multiple opening styles, and feature integrated keyhole mounting slots on two edges, allowing the frame to be hung vertically or horizontally. Shown here framed is 4854 TU 4x8 Speedy Bonito (Turquoise)
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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C HARLEY H ARPER
Mid-century illustrator Charley Harper (1922-2007) had an alternative way of looking at nature. Illustrating our world for six decades, he created thousands of bold, colorful works that manage to be both elegant and amusing. Harper said he was “the only wildlife artist who has never been compared to Audubon,” yet his wildlife art is just as instructive – the only difference is that Harper laced his lessons with humor.
4474 DO ■ 4x4 Gregarious Grosbeaks (Dark Oak)
4474 BL ■ 4x4 Gregarious Grosbeaks (Blue)
4474 TU ■ 4x4 Gregarious Grosbeaks (Turquoise)
4475 WT ■ 4x4 Ladybug with Border (White)
4470 ■ 4x4 Cardinal
4476 CT ■ 4x4 Hare (Carrot)
4476 GY ■ 4x4 Hare (Grey)
4476 LB ■ 4x4 Hare (Light Blue)
OUR OAK PARK FRAME (narrower style) is constructed of 2" quartersawn oak. The frame is flat with mitered corners and comes in two color finishes: Ebony (shown here), and Craftsman Oak (page 14). Oak Park Frames are available with single openings and, by special order, multiple openings. Shown here, Oak Park Double 6x6 Ebony Frame with 6672 6x6 October (top) and 6673 6x6 Autumn Edibles (bottom).
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MOTAWI TILEWORKS
C HAR L EY H A R PE R
6687 BL ■ 6x6 Catnip (Blue) NEW
6676 ■ 6x6 Limp on a Limb
6671 ■ 6x6 Upside Downside
6878 ■ 6x8 Brrrrdbath NEW
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
6687 GL ■ 6x6 Catnip (Golden) NEW
6645 MI ■ 6x6 Little Sipper (Mint) NEW
6686 ■ 6x6 Coniferous Cardinal
6687 GY ■ 6x6 Catnip (Grey) NEW
6674 ■ 6x6 Family Owlbum
6677 ■ 6x6 Perfect Tree
6871 ■ 6x8 Under the Sweetgum
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C HARLEY H AR PER
4873 ■ 4x8 Homecoming
6672 ■ 6x6 October
4875 ■ 4x8 Blue Jay
6673 ■ 6x6 Autumn Edibles
4874 ■ 4x8 Headbanger
4872 ■ 4x8 Cool Cardinal
‘‘
When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don’t see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. – Charley Harper
6877 ■ 6x8 Puffin
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MOTAWI TILEWORKS
4 x 12
E C L E C TI C DES I G NS
4123 GR ■ 4x12 Riverscape (Green)
6815 TU ■ 6x8 Koi Pond (Turquoise)
4889 DC ■ 4x8 Peacock Feather (Dark Ocean)
6682 ■ 6x6 Paine’s Penguins
4128 CB ■ 4x12 Amaryllis (China Blue)
4844 BL ■ 4x8 Mighty Mac (Blue)
4128 TN ■ 4x12 Amaryllis (Tangerine)
In 2015, Motawi Tileworks was commissioned by the Two Red Roses Foundation to create an eight foot tall tile mural based on Two Red Roses Across the Moon, an Arts & Crafts stained glass pattern by Ernest Archibald Taylor. The mural will be on display at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida, when it opens in late 2018. Our 8x8 Bella Luna tile was derived from our mural design, albeit in a much smaller scale, to be enjoyed in any home.
8818 ■ 8x8 Bella Luna NEW
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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H olid ay Designs
Yos hiko Yamamoto
4827 BL ■ 4x8 Drummer (Blue)
4828 GR ■ 4x8 Bugler (Green)
6811 ■ 6x8 Winter Cardinals
4826 PT ■ 4x8 Nutcracker (Peppermint)
4850 PT ■ 4x8 Dard Hunter Tree (Peppermint)
6810 ■ 6x8 Montana de Oro
6660 BK ■ 6x6 Wreath (Black) NEW
6814 ■ 6x8 Raven
6812 ■ 6x8 Redwood
6818 ■ 6x8 California Oak
Woodblock artist Yoshiko Yamamoto believes “art is not an object, it is a way of life.” The creation of Winter Cardinals (top, left), our interpretation of her holiday card woodcut, was featured on the PBS series Craft in America in 2015. 6660 WT ■ 6x6 Wreath (White) NEW
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6685 ■ 6x6 Spring Chickadees
MOTAWI TILEWORKS
C ary Phillips
6816 GR ■ 6x8 Tropicana (Green)
6817 GR ■ 6x8 Hummingbird (Green)
6817 LB ■ 6x8 Hummingbird (Light Blue)
Multimedia artist Cary Phillips’ colorful, graphic style has graced children’s books, textiles, greeting cards, and of course Motawi tile.
4816 RD ■ 6x8 Starry Flowers (Red) NEW
4816 GR ■ 6x8 Starry Flowers (Green) NEW
4816 BL ■ 6x8 Starry Flowers (Blue) NEW
4 x 8 DARD HUNTER
Arts and Crafts pioneer Dard Hunter was an American authority on printing, paper, and papermaking, especially by hand, using the tools and craft of four centuries prior.
4884 OV ■ 4x8 Checkerpot Rose (Olive)
4883 OV ■ 4x8 Bell Flower (Olive)
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
4882 OV ■ 4x8 Dard Hunter Poppy (Olive)
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FR A N K L L O YD W R I G HT ®
6371 CR ■ 6x8 Waterlilies (Cream)
6371 LB ■ 6x8 Waterlilies (Light Blue)
4345 TU ■ 4x8 Skylight (Turquoise) NEW
Frank Lloyd Wright COLLECTION Architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) found virtually no distinction between life and architecture. Architecture, art, nature, and life were all one thing to him—to be explored, savored, and appreciated. Given this, it is not surprising that Wright believed in creating total environments, which included designing not only residences, shops and skyscrapers, but also the art glass windows, furniture, textiles, light fixtures, carpets, and tiles that filled them. Motawi Tileworks partners with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to create art tile that is adapted from Wright’s portfolio of work.
© | ® | TM 2017 Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. All rights reserved.
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MOTAWI TILEWORKS
F RANK LLOYD WRIGHT ®
8380 PD ■ 8x8 March Balloons (Parade)
8381 ■ 8x8 Frozen Spheres
8360 ■ 8x8 May Basket
6390 BR ■ Frank Thomas House (Brown) 4345 BR ■ 4x8 Skylight (Brown)
4347 ■ 4x8 Martin House
8390 ■ 8x8 Prairie Star
6373
4348 ■ 4x8 Coonley Playhouse
4349 GL ■ 4x8 Frank Thomas House Art Glass (Golden)
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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6x11 Celebration NEW
IN CELEBRATION OF Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday, we created this special limited-time tile depicting his Coonley Playhouse window. This tile will only be available until June, 2018.
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Pin e LANDS C APES
Our Pine Landscape and Woodland tiles are inspired by The Pines, a historic series of tiles designed by Addison LeBoutillier and produced by Grueby Faience of Boston at the beginning of the twentieth century.
8820 SU ■ 8x8 Pine Landscape Mountain (Summer)
Our Oak Park Frame (narrower style, shown below) is constructed of 2" quartersawn oak. The frame is flat with mitered corners and stapled joints and comes in two color finishes: Craftsman Oak, shown here, and Ebony (see page 6). Oak Park Frames are available with single openings and, by special order, multiple openings (example shown opposite). Shown here with 6620 SU 6x6 Pine Landscape Mountain, Summer on our Roebuck easel.
4820 SU ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Vertical (Summer)
4820 AU ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Vertical (Autumn) NEW
6820 AU ■ 6x8 Woodland (Autumn)
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8821 SU ■ 8x8 Pine Landscape Valley (Summer)
4820 SP ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Vertical (Spring) NEW
6820 SP ■ 6x8 Woodland (Spring)
MOTAWI TILEWORKS
Pin e LANDSCAPES
4821 SU ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Horizontal (Summer)
4821 AU ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Horizontal (Autumn) NEW
4421 SU ■ 4x4 Pine Landscape Valley (Summer)
4821 SP ■ 4x8 Pine Landscape, Horizontal (Spring) NEW
4420 SU ■ 4x4 Pine Landscape Mountain (Summer)
6621 SU ■ 6x6 Pine Landscape Valley (Summer)
6620 SU ■ 6x6 Pine Landscape Mountain (Summer)
4125 SU ■ 4x12 Pine Landscape, Vertical (Summer)
Shown here, 4820 and 8820 Summer Pine Landscapes triptych in our triple-opening Oak Park Frame.
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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S O NGB IRDS
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8868 DM ■ 8x8 Songbirds (Denim)
4868 DM ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Right (Denim)
4869 DM ■ 4x8 Long Stem (Denim)
4867 DM ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Left (Denim)
8868 GB ■ 8x8 Songbirds (Grey Blue)
4868 GB ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Right (Grey Blue)
4869 GB ■ 4x8 Long Stem (Grey Blue)
4867 GB ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Left (Grey Blue)
8868 GL ■ 8x8 Songbirds (Golden)
4868 GL ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Right (Golden)
4869 GL ■ 4x8 Long Stem (Golden)
4867 GL ■ 4x8 Songbird Facing Left (Golden)
MOTAWI TILEWORKS
PENDANT necklaces Based on our popular tile designs, our pendants are crafted from polished nickel-plated, die-cast zinc inlaid with colored enamel. Metal parts are a reflective silver color. Square pendants measure 1" per side, while the rectangular pendants are 3⁄4" x 19⁄16". Both are 1⁄8" thick. Each pendant comes with an 18" silver-plated adjustable chain with a 1" extender and a black velvet pouch.
N11 ■ Owl Pendant
N12 ■ Dragonfly Pendant
N10 ■ Songbird Pendant
N13 ■ Dard Hunter Poppy Pendant
Disp lay Easels Our 7" Roebuck and 5" Emerson easels are made in our hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Roebuck holds all of our standard-sized tile and is deep enough to accommodate our wooden display frames; the shorter Emerson features tile-depth-only arms, and is suitable for tiles up to 8" tall. Both are fabricated from powder-coated steel, featuring durable and elegant single-piece construction.
Emerson
Roebuck
8818 8x8 Bella Luna on our Emerson easel
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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H O USE NUM BER TILES
4830–4839 BK ■ 4x8 House Numbers (Black)
4830–4839 WT ■ 4x8 House Numbers (White)
m etal H OUSE NUMBE R FRAMES
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48H3 ■ 4x8 3-Tile Frame, 12"w x 8½"h
48H5 ■ 4x8 5-Tile Frame, 20”w x 8½”h
48H4 ■ 4x8 4-Tile Frame, 16"w x 8½"h
48H6 ■ 4x8 6-Tile Frame, 24”w x 8½”h
Our house number tiles are safe for outdoor use in all climates.
Our house number frames can accommodate three, four, five and six tiles. Locally fabricated in Ann Arbor, these weatherproof frames feature slots that allow you to change your tiles when the mood strikes. Tiles not included with frames.
MOTAWI TILEWORKS
C OLLEG IAT E spirit
4227 WB ■ 6x8 University of Michigan Outline Block “M” (White with Blue) NEW
4228 BM ■ 6x8 University of Michigan Outline Block “M” (Blue with Maize) NEW
4225 MZ ■ 4x4 University of Michigan Block “M” (Maize)
4224 BL ■ 4x4 University of Michigan Block “M” (Blue)
4226 WT ■ 4x4 University of Michigan Block “M” (White) NEW
4202 GR ■ 4x4 Michigan State University Block “S” (Green)
4207 GR ■ 4x4 Michigan State University Spartan Helmet (Green) NEW
4209 WT ■ 4x4 Michigan State University Spartan Helmet (White) NEW
4229 WM ■ 6x8 University of Michigan Outline Block “M” (White with Maize) NEW
A b out our HO USE NUMBE R FRAMES
Easily change tiles for a fresh look every season! Weatherproof, allmetal construction with durable powder-coat finish and easy, secure keyhole mounting.
734.213.0017 | motawi.com
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170 Enterprise Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 V 734.213.0017 | F 734.213.2569 motawi.com |
