The BlattChaya Family

The Blatt Chaya family stands in their warehouse in Dekwaneh, Beirut. BlattChaya began around 1881 by Edgar Chaya's grandfather, Tannous Chaya. The tradition of making handmade cement tiles was handed down through three generations before the business disappeared around the 1940s. This could have been the end of BlattChaya, except for a case that serendipitously came into Edgard's possession after his uncle passed away. It was filled with about 12 tile molds, 5 of which were usable. It was 1996. It took about four years for Edgard to make his first tile. Now, a little less than 20 years later, his love for tickering with tiles has turned into an international business. Pictured from left to right is Karim, Caline, Edgard, Youmna and Maan.