Homage to the Square by Mutina

Collection Summary

Homage to the Square is a glazed porcelain stoneware collection by Mutina, produced in collaboration with The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation. Mutina reinterprets Josef and Anni Albers’s theory of color, form and perception, transforming porcelain surfaces into dynamic fields of chromatic interaction, with the palette drawn from the hues of the artist’s Homage to the Square series. The collection comprises seven colors — Sea, Evergreen, Chocolate, Ice, Citron, Sage, and Peach — produced in two patterns, Dash and Dot, each built from a repeating square module. Tiles are supplied in a single 15×15 cm (6″×6″) format, 9 mm thick, as glazed and unrectified porcelain stoneware. Its defining characteristic is the calibration of each tone to reproduce a comparable sense of visual vibration to Albers’s paintings, achieved through layered glaze application rather than a printed or reproduced pattern.

Design & Aesthetic

Each of the seven shades has been calibrated to evoke a comparable sense of visual vibration and intensity, reflecting both Albers’s research into chromatic interaction and Mutina’s own ceramic know-how. The square format functions as more than a compositional element: within Mutina’s design language it acts as a stable yet flexible structure in which color and material continuously reshape the viewer’s perception. The surface is built through washes, overlays, and glaze applications that create distinct yet integrated chromatic layers, with matte and glossy finishes emerging through controlled material reactions. Because Dash and Dot share the same module and palette, the two patterns are shown combined within single color families (for example, Evergreen or Peach in both Dash and Dot), allowing tonal compositions built from pattern contrast rather than color contrast alone.

Material & Craftsmanship

Homage to the Square is glazed, unrectified porcelain stoneware, classified under UNI EN 14411 BIa GL. The collection contains no V.O.C. and its production combines Mutina’s artisanal ceramic expertise with current manufacturing technology. Being unrectified, individual tiles retain the natural firing-edge variation typical of this production method, which should be accounted for in joint planning. The design was developed in 2026 and carries a registered design registration (no. 015139910-0001/0025, registered 23/04/2026).

Design Applications

Application differs by pattern. The Dot pattern is rated for indoor floors and walls, and outdoor walls. The Dash pattern is rated for walls only, both indoor and outdoor — it is not intended for floor installation. Given the 15×15 cm module, both patterns suit compositions built from repetition and color/pattern rhythm — feature walls, banding, or floor-to-wall transitions using Dot — rather than large monolithic fields.

Specifying Homage to the Square

Install on substrates that are flat and dry, adapting the radii of edges and corners of the substrate to the tile. Use an adhesive formulated for porcelain stoneware, with a 2 mm joint. Both cement-based and epoxy grout are supported; fine-grain grout is required for the glossy finish. Special Jolly trim pieces are available on request. For maintenance, glossy-finish tiles require abrasive-free cleaning (no steel wool or scouring pads) to avoid scuffing or dulling; matte tiles follow standard neutral-detergent cleaning.

Product Specifications

• Material: Glazed, unrectified porcelain stoneware
• Category: UNI EN 14411 BIa GL
• Nominal size: 15×15 cm (6″×6″)
• Thickness: 9 mm
• Actual caliber: 150×150 mm, ±1 mm tolerance
• Patterns: Dash, Dot
• Colors: Sea, Evergreen, Chocolate, Ice, Citron, Sage, Peach
• Water absorption: 0.15% (ISO 10545-3; required <0.5%)
• Frost resistance: Resistant, no visible alteration (ISO 10545-12)
• Thermal shock resistance: Resistant, no visible alteration (ISO 10545-9)
• Chemical resistance: Class A (ISO 10545-13; minimum required Class B)
• Stain resistance: Class 5 (ISO 10545-14; minimum required Class 3)
• Slip resistance (Dot only): R10 (DIN EN 16165 Annex B); Class B (Annex A); DCOF 0.57 (ANSI A326.3)
• Abrasion resistance: PEI 2–5 range (matte Dot: 45 dry / 25 wet per BS 7976-2 pendulum test)
• VOC content: None

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Dash and Dot be installed together?

Yes. Both patterns are built from the same 6×6″ square module and share the same seven-color palette, and Mutina presents them combined within single colorways rather than as separate product lines.

What’s the practical difference between the Dot and Dash patterns for planning a project?

Dot is rated for indoor floors and walls plus outdoor walls, while Dash is rated for walls only, indoor and outdoor. If a project needs floor coverage anywhere, Dot is the pattern to specify there; Dash should be reserved for vertical surfaces.

Is Homage to the Square suitable for outdoor use?

Both patterns are rated for outdoor walls, but neither pattern is specified for outdoor flooring — Dot’s floor rating is indoor only. This makes the collection suited to exterior wall cladding rather than exterior paving.

Does the glossy finish need different maintenance than the matte finish?

Yes. Mutina specifies that glossy-finish tiles are more prone to scratching and dulling, so cleaning should avoid steel wool or abrasive pads; matte-finish tiles are less sensitive to this but follow the same neutral-detergent cleaning otherwise.

Are edge or corner trim pieces available?

Yes, Jolly trim pieces are available on request, which is relevant when planning outside corners or exposed tile edges in a Dash wall installation.