It was certainly well established by the early 18th century, being then referred to in Batty Langley’s d.1745 price book for London builders and then referred to as ‘Tuck and Pat’ work. Tuck pointing in England probably evolved from continental influence during the late 17th century, where it is to be seen in the Netherlands, Flanders and parts of France such as Normandy. Today tuck pointing is rarely employed on newly constructed brickwork being, reserved mainly for re-pointing old brickwork known to have had tuck pointing as the original, or earlier, joint finish. Generally until the nineteenth century the projecting ribbon was of a neutral, white or cream-coloured mortar, but subsequently a fashion for coloured ribbons, especially black, though occasionally red and sometimes brown were also used. In the nineteenth century, however, it was often resorted to as a means to disguise inferior brickwork.
Its historical intention was originally to create the illusion of accurately laid, cut and rubbed and gauged brickwork, on a standard brickwork façade constructed of, often-irregular, bricks.
The ribbon is then neatly trimmed to a smaller scale to form a precise, raised, profile. Tuck pointing is a highly-skilled and refined method of pointing, or re-pointing, brickwork whereby a coloured mortar joint is placed to match the brick and grooved while ‘green’ or fresh, to receive a separate, and carefully placed, lime putty: silver sand ribbon.
