The tile is destined to be my kitchen backsplash material. The sheets don't interlock; they're straight-edged on all sides ... an advantage, I think. The backing appears to be porcelain as well, with a slightly-raised 1" square (approx.) diamond pattern over the entire back surface. The face of the tile is slightly deeper in color than what's shown (at least on my monitor) and is entirely coated with something that feels like polyurethane. Having had grout around my sink area in the past along with the related discoloration/crumbling, etc., the coating was a big plus for me because it will repel water and survive regular wiping. And yes. It's a matte finish. It's unique, easy on the eye and durable. My kind of combination.