Gorseciki – original floor tiles – sample

Corsets originated in the Netherlands in the late 1920s and conquered the landscape of Polish cities along with the architecture of late functionalism. They became an unofficial symbol of pre-war Warsaw, Gdynia, and Stalowa Wola.

Today, having gained cult status, they are making a triumphant comeback on the wave of vintage fashion. The tiles are also known as Warsaw Corsets or Cement Corsets, which is a misnomer, as the tiles are not made using the same technology used for cement tiles.

Today, almost no one recognizes this charming name, so appropriate and obvious to the shape – "corsets" are small terracotta tiles with a narrow waist and eye-pleasing bulges beyond. They were laid individually, not cut by the meter like tiny "iriski" (iris tiles) glued face down onto sheets of paper.

The uniqueness of these tiles lay in the skillful complementing of concave and convex edges—a kind of terracotta carpet. Corset patterns are most often found in multi-family homes, typically in hallways, hallways, landings, kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets. Several examples of corsets can be found on villa verandas, as well as on outdoor terraces leading into small urban gardens (Ochota, Mokotów) or opening onto larger gardens (Świder, Konstancin). Corsets can also be supplied loose.