With some better weather and a lull in our “normal” drama, we’re beginning to work on the bungalow. So much to do so little time but we need to get moved and begin working on the Horner House again. In the meantime, we’ve been doing a little research on some of the more historic interior aspects.
We’ve mentioned the many fireplaces at the Horner House several times. The fireplaces appear to have been coal burning rather than wood burning due to the small fireboxes and the metal surround. All of them except for in the dining room have the same type of tile on the surround and on the hearth. This tile is very similar to the fireplace tile in the early 1900’s house my parents lived in for years.
To date, everyone has made the assumption that this tile is not original to the house and was likely installed after 1900. I have looked at hundreds of websites for information on the tile without success. To date, we have not been able to find any books or reference material on how to date old tile. I thought maybe some of you might have some ideas on where we could find some concrete information on dating the tile.
Here’s what it looks like, a combination of green, tan & brown oblong glazed tile.
Does anyone know of a resource, a book, an expert, a website, or anywhere else we might be able to find more information?
I have some friends in Terre Haute with a Queen Anne that has tiles like that around a couple of the fireplaces. Sorry I don't have any more info than that.
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ReplyDeleteI don't know a whole lot about fireplaces but I did hear at some point that green tile was popular at the time. I know too, that the Propylaeum has a couple green tile fireplace surrounds as well as the Rathskeller. And I found this web site on the history of fireplaces: http://www.gascoals.net/library/articles/americanfireplacemantelshistoryofdesign/tabid/1752/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteHave you checked out the preservation brief? It is for tile floors, but has a wealth of information regarding the history of ceramic tile technology in the United States and lists a number of resources you could contact for more information. Interestingly, the industry was transitioning from England to the United States during the time the Horner House was built. http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief40.htm
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kyle. I thought I'd read every oneof the preservation briefs but it looks like I missed one. We'll have to go back and make sure we didn't miss any more.
ReplyDeleteI asked a friend of mine who works in tile. She writes that: "These tiles use a free-flowing glaze, but replicating that glaze is next to impossible. Ann Sacks has a few green stoneware colors that can replicate something similar, and our Kibak line will offer a varied glaze, other than these I haven't seen this "marbleized" look wihtout going towards a stone like Green Onyx. Hope this helps, and if you need me to send some samples let me know! :)"
ReplyDeleteThis place makes reproductions of Cambridge "mottled glaze" tiles, exactly like those you show here. I have them in my 1896 San Antonio home.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lesperancetileworks.com/c14/Mottled-Glaze-Tiles-c36.html
There's a better picture here: http://www.lesperancetileworks.com/Fireplaces-c14.html
Thanks Shelley! They do beautiful work. We have found a source for authenticating the tiles, but it looks like this one might be able to replicate them for us.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we'll be able to get some information on the origins soon!
A google image search for "mottled green ceramic tile" led me to this page. My grandmother's house in CD Juarez, Mexico from before 1915 had a fireplace with nearly identical tiles. It had similar metal surround to yours but with a row of gas jets and a copper reflective back. The house was torn down, butI have the metal pieces and am looking to re-create her fireplace in my house. Best of luck with your project!
ReplyDeleteWow Rosanna! It's wonderful to hear from you. I'll bet your Grandmother's fireplace was amazing! Please keep in touch and send us a photo once you have it restored in your house. I would love to see what it looks like! Best of luck to you as well!
ReplyDeleteWe have that exact same tile and surround in our 1904 house! Plus I had that tile around a fireplace in my previous house - a 1910 in Atlanta, Georgia. We found a Sears Catalog from 1905 that sold the mantel we have with that surround. We need to find some of that tile as well.
ReplyDeleteMy house was built around 1900, my fireplace had the same surround and green tile. The back of the tile is marked with "J B OWENS TILE CO". This company was out of Zanesville Ohio.
ReplyDeleteMy house was built around 1900, my fireplace had the same surround and green tile. The back of the tile is marked with "J B OWENS TILE CO". This company was out of Zanesville Ohio.
ReplyDeleteMy house was built around 1900, my fireplace had the same surround and green tile. The back of the tile is marked with "J B OWENS TILE CO". This company was out of Zanesville Ohio.
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