Cowboys & Indians / September 2010 / Turqouise Tile

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Turqouise Tile

“Is not that an exquisite blue? It is the blue of a sky upon a perfect June day.” So wrote George Kunz, a gem expert for Tiffany & Co., about the ancient stone newly dug from the Arizona hills in 1892. Mined for millennia by Native Americans and long-valued as a precious personal ornament, turquoise is a fickle substance that can be rock hard or chalk soft, changing in color with age and wear. But Colbaugh Processing, the current operator of the Mineral Park turquoise mine in Kingman, Arizona, has perfected a stabilization process that makes it possible for jewelry-grade turquoise to be turned into tile. Produced by ArchitecJewel Tile, these bits of blue can now be used as stunning home décor accents, like the Asteria bath and shower tiles from Ann Sacks (shown), surrounding you with a perfect Arizona sky at any time of day or night.

• Info: 800.278.8453, www.annsacks.com (for tile shown);323.816.8240, www.kingmantile.com.

Issue: September 2010

Filed under: Western, Home-Ranch