Vintage side table, magazine rack with Hemiksem tile, 1950s

Height: 53 cm. Width: 50 cm. Depth: 27 cm. Tile dimensions: 13.2 X 13.2 cm. Origin: Belgium, 1950s. Materials: Steel, teak veneer, brass, ceramic. Founded in the late 19th century, the Gilliot & Cie tile factory in Hemiksem became one of the largest ceramic producers in Europe. At its peak, the factory produced hundreds of thousands of tiles per day and employed over 1, 000 workers. Its tiles were used in prestigious projects such as the Paris Métro stations and the Antwerp pedestrian tunnel. The factory's designs ranged from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, with artist Joseph Roelants playing a key role. After a merger in the 1950s and a takeover by Koninklijke Sphinx, the factory finally closed in 1977. Today, its legacy lives on in the Gilliot & Roelants Tile Museum, located in the former Hemiksem Abbey, where an impressive collection of historic tiles and original designs is on display.