Ruth Frances Greenberg’s process uses her self-termed “wet-clay” method to deliver her desired outcome. Each mosaic begins with a drawing. Once complete, this design is redrawn onto a wet clay slab from which each tessera, or tile, is intricately hand-cut before it’s fired. While most mosaics are cut from either stone or previously fired and glazed tiles, Greenberg’s technique allows for unique freedom in expression and design.

Her approach achieves a clean aesthetic featuring rich detail, elegant shapes, and an original look not often found in mosaic. Surface colors of tiles are diverse in texture, tone, and hue. Glazes, clay bodies, and firing temperatures are customizable providing limitless design and application options. 

Expertise

Greenberg’s new approach to this classic craft stems from her educational background. Making clay, glazes, and kilns from raw materials early in her career instilled in her the confidence necessary to create her wet-clay method. Going beyond this already uncharted territory was a welcome challenge to Greenberg—the process that led to inventing Firebox tiles felt natural because of her familiarity with thinking about the process in terms of its basic components. Greenberg’s technical prowess and innovative spirit enables you to choose from a vast selection of tiles in unique color, glaze, and hue combinations. RFG Tiles are made for you, with your space in mind.

RFG Tile and Sustainability

RFG Tile products are made to last using local labor and materials whenever possible. Inherent to both Greenberg’s method and the individual tiles is sustainability. The pieces themselves—be they mosaics, a Firebox design, or a repeating “Perennial” pattern—are truly “green” in that they are neither disposable nor do they need to be remade. They are permanent abiding décor that grows more beautiful over time.

Utilizing local resources continues to be a conscious choice made by Greenberg. Additionally, the materials used are lead-free, non-toxic, and recyclable. Salvaged glaze waste, for example, is remade into a glaze that is used for RFG Tile products or for other purposes, such as a donation.

RFG Tile is made for you.