JAPAN Design Resource Database

02

Database / I I I I

Design Resources: Digital Archive

  • Karacon Mosaic Tiles

Holdings Classification (Registered Name)

Karacon Mosaic Tiles

Karacon Mosaic Tiles

Holding Institution

INAX Live Museum

Category
  • #Product
Year of Production (First Edition)

1953

Release Year

1953

Manufacturer

Ina Seito Co., Ltd. (later INAX, now LIXIL)

Distributor

Ina Seito Co., Ltd. (later INAX, now LIXIL)

Dimensions

W250 × D100 × H8mm

Materials and Techniques

Ceramic; dry-press forming

Design Registration Number

Unknown

Portrait and Publicity Rights Holder

Not applicable

Copyright Registration Number

Not registered

Data Source

Nantoka Senyaa Chronicle Exhibition Catalogue

Mosaic tiles in 14 hues with five levels of pastel gradation

Description

Karacon Mosaic Tiles were exterior mosaic tiles that enabled subtle color adjustment across 70 variations—an unprecedented range at the time. They were adopted by architects who placed great importance on color precision, including for the exterior wall of the Maruei Department Store in Nagoya designed by Togo Murano, and the Aichi–Tokoname City Ceramic Research Institute designed by Sutemi Horiguchi (now the Tokoname Pottery Forest Ceramic Research Institute). Beyond these examples, the tiles were widely used in public buildings such as the Chiba Prefectural Government Office, telephone exchanges, and post offices.