Stadtlohner straps
As Stadtlohner strap is called a floor or even wall covering made of baked clay , which consists of the stacking aids of pottery , there is what could be used only once. As a waste product from the kilns, they were an inexpensive substitute for more expensive flooring such as sandstone slabs. This type of flooring is / was widespread predominantly in older houses in Westmünsterland , in individual cases even in later buildings or new buildings. Other names are Stadtlohner Steenkes , Plässkes or Esterkes ( Vreden ). Their size varied over time, and dimensions of 10 cm × 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm have been in use since around 1900. Strips are still produced in Stadtlohn , which means that they are no longer exclusively a waste product from pottery. The color of these straps is gray, yellowish to reddish discolorations occur.
Strips were used in kitchens or on the threshing floors and in connection with the hearth fire (as well as wall decoration), sometimes also in the outdoor area to secure the path from the street to the front door.
It was usually laid with the glazed narrow side up in a herringbone pattern or a combination with other materials such as pebbles, floors of broken earthenware or their bulging edges. Then you could even use it to create artistic patterns, possibly with the initials of the builder and / or the year of construction.
Source and literature
- Wilhelm Elling: stoneware from Stadtlohn and Vreden. Publisher: Kreis Borken, printing: Rehmsdruck GmbH Borken 1994, ISBN 3-927851-69-8