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The American Art Tile,
1880 - 1940
April 7, 2012 - January 6, 2013
The popularity of
art tiles for embellishing American architectural settings dates to the
1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where visitors had an
opportunity to see superb examples
of the form. For the remainder of the nineteenth-century, many middle-class
and wealthy consumers modeled their homes in the latest fashions with art
tiles. Mass-produced tiles with refined details often featured famous portraits
or vignettes of characters in period costume. By the turn of the century,
trends shifted, favoring the hand-made aesthetic of the Arts & Crafts
Movement. American art tile companies enjoyed success for about 50 years
until the economic strain caused by the Great Depression and restrictions
imposed during World War II forced many companies out of business. (right:
Tzadi Turrou. American, born 1944, Tile Set of Mount Pisgah (detail),
2011, earthenware. Gift of Daisy Wade Bridges)
The Mint Museum will present a diversity of tile types
in the American Decorative Arts Gallery while highlighting the Gallery's
permanently installed fireplace surround, Arkansas Traveler, modeled
and designed by Henry Chapman Mercer of Moravian Pottery & Tile Works.
A few of the other companies in this exhibit include J.G. & J.F. Low
Art Tile Works from Chelsea, Massachusetts; American Encaustic Tiling Company
and Mosaic Tiling Company from Zanesville, Ohio; and Newcomb Pottery from
New Orleans, Louisiana. Major themes in this exhibition, which features
over thirty tiles, include artistic figures, geometric and stylized patterns,
nature studies, handcrafted (or Arts & Crafts), and a step-by-step on
tile making.
The American Art Tile, 1880 - 1940
features tiles drawn exclusively from The Mint Museum's permanent collection.
These tiles were chosen both for their artistic quality and diversity of
subject matter. All of the tiles on view were gifts to the museum from collectors
and organizations. As the Mint celebrates its 75th Anniversary, this display
provides the museum with an opportunity to thank its donors, past and present,
for their dedication and generosity.
Gallery labels for the exhibition
-
- The decades surrounding 1900 were the golden age of the
American art tile. Whether glazed or unglazed, molded in relief or smooth-surfaced,
decorative tiles were a popular medium among many affluent consumers wishing
to furnish their homes and businesses in the latest fashions. Tiles were
used as fireplace surrounds, wall hangings, and a variety of other ornamental
purposes, both interior and exterior. There were manufacturers across the
country: J. G. & J. F. Low Art Tile Works in Chelsea, Massachusetts;
U. S. Encaustic Tile Company in Indianapolis; and West Coast Tile Company
in Vernon, California, to name a few.
-
- Potteries often hired the most talented designers and
modelers of the day to invigorate their product lines. Trent Tile Company
of Trenton, New Jersey, hired the Canadian sculptor, Isaac Broome (1835-1922);
American Encaustic Tiling Company of Zanesville, Ohio, employed Herman
Mueller (1854-1941), born and trained in Germany; and the Staffordshire
ceramist, Frederick Hurten Rhead (1880-1942), worked for a number of American
potteries before opening his own firm in Santa Barbara, California. The
designers created innovative products that helped to ensure the American
art tile's success for more than fifty years. The economic strain of the
Great Depression and material restrictions imposed during World War II
eventually forced many companies out of business.
-
- The American Art Tile, 1880 - 1940 features tiles drawn exclusively from The Mint Museum's permanent
collection. These tiles were chosen both for their artistic quality and
diversity of subject matter. All of the tiles on view were gifts to the
museum from collectors and organizations. As the Mint celebrates its 75th
Anniversary, this display provides the museum with an opportunity to thank
its donors, past and present, for their dedication and generosity.
-
-
- Artistic Figures
- Elegantly modeled in low relief, these tiles include
figurative themes inspired by literature or historical motifs.
-
- J. G. & J. F. Low Art Tile Works. Chelsea, Massachusetts,
1883-1902
- King Lear Tile 1885
- Earthenware
- Gift of James P. and Susan C. Witkowski. 2004.102.1
-
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616), wrote his tragedy, King
Lear, in 1604-1605. The tile captures a crucial moment in Act
III, when Lear realizes that his daughters betrayed him. He yells into
a fierce storm, "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!"
-
- J. G. & J. F. Low Art Tile Works. Chelsea, Massachusetts,
1883-1902
- Ophelia Tile 1885
- Earthenware
- Gift of James P. and Susan C. Witkowski. 2004.102.4
-
- In Act IV of Shakespeare's Hamlet, written1600-1601,
the tragic heroine, Ophelia, mad with grief, mourns the loss of her father,
singing: "He is dead and gone."
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Herman Mueller (attributed). German (worked in America),
1854-1941
- Framed Tile Sets with Lady and Gentleman circa 1887-1894
- Earthenware
- Gift of Betsy Tate Freeman. 2003.23.1A-C, 2003.23.2A-C
-
- In the late 1800s, many affluent Americans sought works
of art that evoked Europe's past, such as these figures in seventeenth-century
dress, as a way of demonstrating their cultural sophistication and good
taste.
-
- Trent Tile Company. Trenton, New Jersey, 1882-1939
- Tile with Classical Figure of Spring circa 1900-1910
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.214
-
- International Tile and Trim. Brooklyn, New York, 1882-1888
- Tile with Face in Right Profile circa
1885
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.238
-
- International Tile and Trim. Brooklyn, New York, 1882-1888
- Tile with Face in Left Profile circa
1885
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.239
-
- Inspired by Nature
-
- Floral and other natural motifs were extremely popular
in American ceramics in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Parks, botanical
gardens, and greenhouses established during this period provided ample
inspiration for artists and designers.
-
- Unknown American Maker
- Tile Set with Bird on a Branch circa
1900
- Terra cotta
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.215.1-3
-
- U. S. Encaustic Tile Company. Indianapolis, Indiana,
1877-1886
- Tile with Bird circa 1880
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.240
-
- Kensington Art Tile Company. Newport, Kentucky, 1885-1893
- Tile with Water Lily circa
1900
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.243
-
- Providential Tile Works. Trenton, New Jersey, 1886-1913
- Tile with Apple Blossom circa
1886-1890
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.244
-
- Cambridge Art Tile Works. Covington, Kentucky, 1886-1985
- Tile Set with Hunt Scene circa
1900
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.242.1-3
-
- Making a Tile
- Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930) came from a prominent
Pennsylvania family and worked as an archaeologist before becoming interested
in ceramics. He designed all the tiles produced at his manufacturing company,
Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. As the first step in production, workers
then created a model of his design, usually in clay.
-
- Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. Doylestown, Pennsylvania,
1898 - present
- Henry Chapman Mercer. American, 1856-1930
- "Musician Playing a Dulcimer" Mold circa 1970
- Plaster of Paris
- Gift of Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. H1979.315.5
-
- The second step in the process was to encase the model
with plaster of Paris to form a mold, as seen here.
-
- Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. Doylestown, Pennsylvania,
1898 - present
- Henry Chapman Mercer. American, 1856-1930
- "Musician Playing a Dulcimer" Tile circa 1979
- Earthenware
- Gift of Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. H1979.315.7
-
- After the mold dries out, clay is pressed into its hollow
recess. The clay tile is then removed from the mold, and its edges are
cleaned up.
-
- Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. Doylestown, Pennsylvania,
1898 - present
- Henry Chapman Mercer. American, 1856-1930
- "Musician Playing a Dulcimer" Tile circa 1979
- Earthenware
- Gift of Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. H1979.315.8
-
- Colored decoration is then applied to the still damp
clay. The tile is then fired at a low temperature.
-
- Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. Doylestown, Pennsylvania,
1898 - present
- Henry Chapman Mercer. American, 1856-1930
- "Musician Playing a Dulcimer" Tile circa 1979
- Earthenware
- Gift of the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite Auxiliary. H1979.316.11
-
- Finally, a worker applies a glaze, and the tile is fired
again, this time at a much higher temperature. The tile is now finished.
-
- Tiles and the Arts & Crafts Movement
- The height of art tile production in the United States
coincided with the Arts & Crafts Movement, popular in America from
about 1875 to 1920. A basic tenet of the movement was that everyone deserved
to live with beautiful, affordable things in their homes. One way in which
consumers could realize this goal was to incorporate tiles made by the
manufacturers represented in this case, and throughout the gallery, into
their residential interiors.
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Tile with Fish circa 1900-1920
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.226
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Tile with Fox circa 1900-1920
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.231.4
-
- The subject of this tile was probably inspired by The
Fox and the Grapes, one of Aesop's Fables. Other tiles in
this series may have similarly been inspired by tales from the same source.
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Tile with Goose circa 1900-1920
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.231.3
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Tile with Stork circa 1900-1920
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.221
-
- Mosaic Tile Company. Zanesville, Ohio, 1894-1972
- Tile with Water Lily circa
1900-1920
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.228
-
- Pewabic Pottery. Detroit, Michigan, 1903 - present
- Tile 1935
- Earthenware
- Daisy Wade Bridges Collection. H1980.235.12
-
- Pewabic Pottery produced this tile to commemorate the
1935 convention of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, held in Detroit.
-
- Flint Faience and Tile Company. Flint, Michigan, 1921-1933
- Tiles with Crystalline Glazes
1929
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.223, 2006.102.224
-
- Design Adaptability
- Many tile companies included among their products tiles
with stylized floral or geometric patterns, as they could easily be incorporated
into large design schemes that covered a wall or fireplace surround, or
used in smaller settings as decorative highlights.
-
- U. S. Encaustic Tile Company. Indianapolis, Indiana,
1877-1886
- Tile Set with Large Diamond Pattern circa 1880
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.234.1-4
-
- U. S. Encaustic Tile Company. Indianapolis, Indiana,
1877-1886
- Tile with Rope Border circa
1880-1885
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.245
-
- U. S. Encaustic Tile Company. Indianapolis, Indiana,
1877-1886
- Tile with Stylized Flower circa
1880
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.222
-
- J. G. & J. F. Low Art Tile Works. Chelsea, Massachusetts,
1883-1902
- Tile with Central Rosette
circa 1885-1890
- Earthenware
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. B. Keith Gray. H1981.37.2
-
- Beaver Falls Art Tile Company. Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania,
1886-1927
- Tile with Large Flower
circa 1900
- Earthenware
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. B. Keith Gray. H1981.37.4
-
- Indianapolis Terra Cotta Company. Indianapolis, Indiana,
1883-1918
- Tile with Flower Surrounded by Leaves circa 1900
- Earthenware
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. B. Keith Gray. H1981.37.5
-
- Providential Tile Works. Trenton, New Jersey, 1886-1913
- Tile with Scrolling Tendril circa
1890
- Earthenware
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. B. Keith Gray. H1981.37.9
-
- Trent Tile Company. Trenton, New Jersey, 1882-1939
- Tile with Leafy Vine circa
1900
- Earthenware
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. B. Keith Gray. H1981.37.8
-
- Portraits
- Various manufacturers made tiles to commemorate public
figures, both historic and contemporary.
-
- Grueby Faience and Tile Company. Boston, Massachusetts,
1909-1920
- Portrait Plaque of Mary Baker Eddy circa 1913
- Stoneware
- Gift of Daisy Wade Bridges. 2010.20.20
-
- Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) was an influential author
and religious leader who in 1879 founded The Church of Christ, Scientist.
-
- Mosaic Tile Company. Zanesville, Ohio, 1894-1972
- Portrait Tile of President Abraham Lincoln circa 1900
- Stoneware
- Gift of Daisy Wade Bridges. 2010.20.23
-
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the sixteenth President
of the United States.
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Portrait Tile of President William McKinley circa 1901
- Earthenware
- Daisy Wade Bridges Collection H1979.340.23
-
- As Governor of Ohio, William McKinley (1843-1901) attended
the 1892 dedication ceremony for American Encaustic Tiling Company's new
Zanesville factory. In 1897, he became the twenty-fifth President of the
United States.
-
- Product Diversity
- While many American art potteries-including Rookwood
Pottery in Cincinnati, Grueby Faience Company in Boston, Newcomb Pottery
in New Orleans-that made vases and other hollowware forms also produced
tiles, it was less common for tile manufactories to expand their production
to include other ceramic forms. The American Encaustic Tile Company in
Zanesville, Ohio, was an exception, however, thanks to Frederick Hurten
Rhead (1880-1942). From 1917-1927, Rhead worked at the factory, where he
designed tiles and other objects, including the candleholder on view here.
-
- Newcomb Pottery. New Orleans, Louisiana, 1895-1940
- Anna Frances Simpson. American, 1880-1930
- Round Tile 1929
- Earthenware
- Daisy Wade Bridges Collection. H1982.214.8
-
- In 1894, the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College added
pottery to the curriculum. One year later the college began production
as Newcomb Pottery. Many artists such as Anna Frances Simpson began as
students and continued to work there for many years.
-
- Newcomb Pottery. New Orleans, Louisiana, 1895-1940
- Jonathan Brown Hunt (modeler). American, 1876-1943
- Sarah Agnes Estelle Irvine. American, 1887-1970
- Vase with Moss-Draped Live Oaks 1931
- Earthenware
- Daisy Wade Bridges Collection. H1982.15.2
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Tile circa 1890
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.216
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935
- Frederick Hurten Rhead. English (worked in America),
1880-1942
- Candleholder circa 1925
- Earthenware
- Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.169
-
- American Encaustic Tiling Company. Zanesville, Ohio,
1875-1935