1897-98
Georges Gilliot founded the S.A. L’Email – Usine d ‘Emaillage de Produits et Terres diverses’ together with John Aulit in 1897. In April 1898 they put the first ceramic tiles on the market.
1904
The brothers Georges and Leon Gilliot, together with their brothers-in-law Théodore de Bellaing and Pierre Cardon de Lichtbuer, founded the S.A. Grès Emaillés d’Hemixem, Gilliot Frères.
The firm delivers the highest quality floor and wall tiles. Production increases from 50,000 to 250,000 tiles a day. In 1913 about 1000 employees are working in different plants.
Interwar period
Reconstruction after 1918. Largest European tile factory. Importance of world exhibitions: Antwerp 1930, Brussels 1935 (own pavilion), Paris 1937.
After 1944
Reconstruction. Festivities for 50 years of existence in 1948.
1957
Merge with Produits Céramique La Dyle from Wijgmaal to Ceramic factories of Hemiksem and the Dijle. Difficult years are following.
1958
Successful participation in Expo ’58 Brussels. After that, difficult years began.
1968
Royal Sphinx (Maastricht) becomes the main shareholder – beginning of the end.
1974
The company is transformed into NV Sphinx Hemiksem – soon only production of coffee filter bags.
1977-78
Cessation of all activities
1988-90
Emptying of the factory buildings. Recovery of many tile panels out of the former showroom to the tile museum .
Photo showroom during a company event, in better times toonzaal tijdens bedrijfsevenement, in betere tijden
About Joseph Roelants
1881
Joseph Charles Roelants is born on November 4, 1881. Decorative artist who is mainly interested in the applied arts.
1914
WWI. Moves to Bournemouth England. Works in the aircraft industry and designs a popular tile series for the Poole Potteries. Leon Gilliot & John Salt persuade him to come to Hemiksem.
1919
Settles in Hemiksem. Designer of decorative panels and head of the art department. Worksin different styles, sometimes daring and modern, controversial for the time (art deco – cubism). Achieved most fame at the 1935 Brussels World Fair.
1946
Retires but remains self-employed in the factory until 1957
1962
Dies on August 7, 1962.
