"A Roof Tile with a Passport"
"A Roof Tile with a Passport"
An Architectural Artifact of the Loriet Estate
Tucked high along the ridge of the Loriet Mansion's roof, there rests an unassuming piece of terracotta. Worn by salt air and Mediterranean sun, it might escape notice — but this tile has a story.
Stamped with the name Guichard Carvin & Cie – Marseille St André, it was crafted in southern France in the late 19th century, in the industrial district of Saint-André near Marseille. At that time, France was at the forefront of architectural innovation, and this manufacturer was among the most respected tilemakers in Europe. Their specialty was the now-iconic Marseille tile: strong, interlocking, and designed to resist the elements with both function and form.
These tiles didn’t just protect buildings — they traveled. Crates of them were shipped across the Mediterranean to meet the growing demand for durable roofing on islands and coastal cities alike.
One such shipment found its way to Lesvos, likely in the late 1800s, during the golden era of Mytilene’s great mansions. Carefully installed atop the grand structure that is now part of the Loriet Hotel estate, this tile became part of the very fabric of the building — sheltering families, guests, and history itself.
Today, it remains in place, still doing its job more than a century later. A silent sentinel, it has endured earthquakes, winters, wars, and summers filled with cicada song and sea breeze.
More than a roof tile, it is a physical connection to a time when buildings were built to last — and beauty was expected, even in the smallest detail.
