Quick answer: The lowest per-square-foot quote is not necessarily the lowest project cost. To compare Moroccan zellige proposals fairly, normalize material coverage, verified origin, finish, accepted sample, packaging, breakage assumptions, Incoterms or delivery obligations and the complete landed cost. A design concept listing without a real supplier must remain unpriced until a workshop is verified.
Editorial guide prepared October 2026. Material options are sourcing enquiries until a real workshop confirms origin, technical performance, stock and quote. Read official linked sources for technical/historical context.
Questions answered in this guide
What information must every supplier quote identify?
Look for legal supplier identity, actual manufacturing origin, material composition, verified shape and measurements, glaze and finish, approved sample reference, requested quantity, unit of sale, packing, stated currency and payment conditions. If a proposal simply says ‘authentic handmade’ with a moodboard image, the claim needs additional supporting evidence.
Should I compare per-square-foot prices or total landed cost?
Both, but use consistent units and assumptions. Normalize to the same actual usable coverage and include cutting/waste assumptions, sample fees, freight, insurance, customs brokerage, duties, tax, port handling and local delivery. The project total matters more than one attractive unit price. Never compare a delivered U.S. quote with an ex-workshop quote as though they were equivalent.
Do online zellige color codes guarantee a price?
No. Zellige Atelier’s ZELLIGE-COL references are internal color directions and a way to request sourcing, not standardized production recipes. The same requested green concept might require different available suppliers or glazing trials. Pricing can only follow supplier feasibility and a physical or documented sample approval.
Why do delivery terms matter?
Different delivery obligations determine who arranges pickup, export clearance, freight, insurance, U.S. import and final transport. If the quote doesn’t identify who carries each risk and cost, a low headline number can hide major charges. Confirm wording with the freight forwarder and importer rather than assuming ‘shipping included’ means everything paid.
How should customs duty be estimated?
The actual classification and applicable trade treatment must be confirmed for the particular ceramic item. CBP explains that importing conditions depend on the HTS classification; USITC publishes the official tariff schedule. Do not assign a universal duty percentage based only on the keyword ‘zellige’. A customs broker should confirm applicable documentation and tariff treatment at the time of entry.
What evidence supports an ‘authentic Moroccan’ claim?
Ask for supplier provenance, workshop information, origin documentation where appropriate, production photos that actually correspond to the workshop, and approved physical samples. Historic museum photography establishes the art tradition, not the origin of a newly offered SKU. Our buyer authenticity checklist helps separate evidence from marketing.
How should I compare shipment and breakage assumptions?
Ask for net and gross weights, packing units, crate type, palletization, inspection at dispatch, carrier handoff and the contract’s damage/claims procedure. Separate a normal discretionary spare percentage from actual transit-damage liability. Product data, shipment paperwork and agreed inspection stages make comparison meaningful.
What should I do before paying a deposit?
Approve the exact sample or variation range, confirm the complete written quotation and milestone schedule, verify the counterparty, and understand cancellation and dispute terms. Our published process says a 50% advance is required after written quote approval and before dispatch; the remaining balance and precise conditions belong to the signed quote. See our sourcing process.
Sources and supporting references
The institutional sources below are general standards or history, not evidence that a particular unverified catalogue concept has passed tests or is stocked.
Continue your project
See our full Zellige FAQ library, the Tile Finder, the 500-reference catalogue overview and request a supplier-verified quote. No stock, supplier, price, performance or delivery promise should be inferred from editorial imagery.
