Moorish Architectural Design · SampleS Programm
Every sample is a tile order in miniature — custom-made for you, from scratch, in Fez. Understanding the process behind it helps you appreciate what arrives at your door.
We do not maintain a warehouse of ready-made tiles. Every tile we produce — whether a single square-foot sample or a full project order — is custom-made for that specific client, in that specific colour, at the time of order. We carry no stock.
Producing a sample is not a matter of pulling a tile from a shelf. It requires the same full production sequence as any order: sourcing raw clay, formulating colour pigments from mineral compounds, shaping each tile by hand, sun-drying, glazing, and firing in our traditional wood-burning kiln. Each colourway demands its own precise pigment mixture and kiln temperature calibration. There are no shortcuts, and no way to produce an authentic zellige tile any faster.
This is precisely why we recommend samples to every serious client. A sample is not a brochure — it is a hand-fired object that lets you assess weight, glaze depth, surface texture, and true colour under your project's actual lighting before committing to a full order. It is the most important step you can take before specifying our tiles.
From your request to the moment your sample leaves Morocco, every step is carried out by hand in our Fez atelier by artisans trained in an unbroken tradition of ceramic craft.
01
Pigment formulation
Our maalems mix mineral colour pigments from raw compounds to match your specified colourway. Each formula is unique to that colour and cannot be substituted.
02
Clay preparation & hand pressing
Raw terracotta clay is prepared and hand-pressed into wooden moulds. Each tile is formed individually — not extruded or machine-cut.
03
Sun drying
Freshly pressed tiles are laid out to dry naturally in the Moroccan sun. This step cannot be rushed without compromising the structural integrity of the clay body.
04
Glaze application
Colour pigments and glazes are applied by hand. The ratio, thickness of application, and layering sequence all determine the final depth, luminosity, and tone of the finished surface.
05
Kiln firing
Tiles are loaded into our traditional wood-fired kiln and fired at a temperature calibrated precisely to your specific glaze formula. Temperature variation of even a few degrees changes the colour outcome permanently.
06
Quality review & international dispatch
Finished tiles are inspected by our team, carefully packaged to survive international freight, and shipped directly to your address from Fez, Morocco.
The sample fee reflects the true cost of custom production and international freight. It is not a margin — it is the actual, unsubsidised cost of having a bespoke zellige tile hand-made and shipped to you from Morocco.
Production cost Custom fabrication in Fez, Morocco — pigments, clay, glazing, and kiln firing
$299
International shipping Insured international freight from Fez, Morocco to your address
$300
Total sample fee Per one square-foot sample — any colourway or tile type
$599
Full credit toward your order: The entire $599 sample fee is credited in full toward any confirmed purchase order of 50 square feet or more. Request multiple samples and each credit applies individually. Your sample is effectively free when you proceed with a qualifying order.
Your sample is a guide to colour character, glaze depth, weight, and surface texture — not a colour-matched guarantee. Because zellige is fired in batches and every kiln firing is slightly different, your production order may differ subtly from the sample you receive. This is not a defect; it is the living nature of handcraft that has distinguished zellige for eight centuries.
We encourage you to view your sample under the lighting conditions of your actual project space, ideally placed against your intended wall or pool surround materials, before confirming your order.
Will my full order match the sample exactly?
Your sample is indicative of the colourway, glaze character, and surface quality of the tile. Natural shade variation between production batches is inherent in all kiln-fired clay and is not considered a defect. All goods are sold subject to normal and natural colour variation.
How long does a sample take to arrive?
Production and international shipping typically takes 4–8 weeks from order confirmation. We will keep you updated at each stage of production and dispatch.
Can I request more than one sample at a time?
Yes. Each distinct colourway or tile type is priced separately at $599 per square-foot sample. Each sample credit applies individually toward your qualifying purchase order.
What is the minimum order to use my sample credit?
The sample fee credit is applied to confirmed purchase orders of 50 square feet or more of tiles. There is no expiry on your credit once a sample has been purchased.
Are sample fees refundable?
Because each sample is custom-made to order and cannot be restocked or resold, sample fees are non-refundable. The 100% credit toward your full order is our commitment to you in return for your investment in the sample.
Can I speak with someone before ordering a sample?
Absolutely. Our design specialists are available by phone at (415) 259-4820 or by email at sales@moorisharchitecturaldesign.com and are happy to discuss your project, recommend colourways, and guide you through the sample process before you commit.
