Mile:
Arbeitest du denn nicht allein?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: I\u2019ve been here from the very beginning, since the workshop started. At first, I worked alongside an older master. When he retired, he entrusted me with taking the reins. Today, I\u2019m among the most experienced here\u2014we have younger colleagues and helpers, but I make sure everything is right. Nothing leaves the workshop without having passed through my hands, or at least under my eye. <\/p>\n\n What do you expect most from the young craftsmen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: First\u2014no rushing. These days everyone wants everything \u201cright away.\u201d But with us there is no \u201cright away.\u201d Second\u2014listening. I show them how, but you also have to listen to and feel the material\u2014sense when the clay is \u201calive\u201d and when it\u2019s \u201ctired.\u201d And third\u2014respect for the work. This is not a factory. Here, every mistake costs time and reputation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n How long does a complete production cycle take?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: On average, two to three weeks. It depends on the weather, humidity, and the thickness of the tile. The clay needs a resting phase. Then we shape everything by hand, so each piece is unique. Drying takes the longest\u2014if you steal time there, everything is lost. Firing is another story. We fire with wood\u2014no push-button operation, but constant control. Mile: Both. Without feel, a measuring tape won\u2019t help you. Of course there are forms and dimensions, but you don\u2019t work like a robot. Clay shrinks as it dries and loses moisture. If the balance isn\u2019t right, the final dimension won\u2019t be right either. You need the sensitivity to know when the clay isn\u2019t ready yet, when waiting is called for, and when something is off. You only learn that with experience\u2014that\u2019s exactly the difference between a beginner and an old hand. <\/p>\n\n How do you deal with mistakes?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: Mistakes happen, but you have to spot them early and act immediately. If a batch starts to crack\u2014stop! If a tile doesn\u2019t fit\u2014out it goes. No compromises. Our clients aren\u2019t just buying a terracotta tile; they\u2019re also buying the assurance that it\u2019s made properly. Because they often wait a long time, we have to earn their trust. <\/p>\n\n Are there any special requests from architects or clients?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: All sorts. Some want specific shades, others particular surface finishes. If it\u2019s feasible, we\u2019ll do it. I\u2019m open to compromise, but I\u2019m also clear: we don\u2019t do anything that won\u2019t work in the end. If someone wants something that doesn\u2019t suit the material, we\u2019d rather decline than be ashamed of it later. Mile: That it\u2019s alive. It isn\u2019t cold like industrial ceramics. When you touch it, you feel the structure, the slight irregularities. And when the sun hits the floor, you see the color of the earth. No piece is like another\u2014and that\u2019s its true value. <\/p>\n\n And finally: What does this work mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Mile: It means everything to me. I\u2019m not here just to \u201cpunch the clock.\u201d I live it. It makes me happy to see something I made find its place in a house, a restaurant, or an old villa. That remains. And when I\u2019m no longer here one day\u2014the tiles will still be there. And hopefully, people will know they were made with hand and heart. That\u2019s no longer a given today. Conclusion<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n If you\u2019d like to learn more about the making and techniques behind our terracotta tiles,<\/a> read our article on traditional production.<\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"Mile](\"https:\/\/cotto-rustic.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mile-terrakotta-brennprozess-holzofen-1200x661.png\" "\\"\\"")
![\"Mile](\"https:\/\/cotto-rustic.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/mile-formt-terracotta-fliese-per-hand-1200x691.png\" "\\"\\"")