What Is The History Of Moravian Tile Works?

Moravian tiles are a distinctive type of decorative ceramic tiles that originated in the mid-18th century in Moravia, which is part of the modern-day Czech Republic. The tiles are notable for their colorful, hand-painted designs, often depicting biblical scenes or floral and geometric patterns.

True Moravian tiles were produced primarily between 1750 and 1840 in various towns and villages in Moravia, including Brno, Cerveny Kostelec, Kunstat, and Podoli. The Moravian Brethren, also known as the Moravian Church, established religious settlements and missions across Europe and in America during this time and introduced the unique tile designs. The tiles were most commonly used to decorate fireplace surrounds, stoves, and walls in churches, schools, and homes.

While production of original Moravian tiles ceased in the mid-19th century, their beauty and craftsmanship established an enduring legacy. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, tile manufacturers in America and Europe sought to reproduce and revive the distinctive Moravian tile style.

Origins

Moravian tile works originated in the early 17th century in Germany, in the Saxony region where the Moravian church was founded. Religious persecution caused Moravians to emigrate, and they brought their artistic tile-making traditions with them, first to areas like Fulneck in the Czech Republic. Some of the earliest examples of Moravian tiles come from churches and religious buildings in places like Herrnhut, Germany dating back to the mid 18th century.Wikipedia

Moravian tilework was known for its high artistic quality despite originating in modest religious settlements. The tiles were decorated with intricate patterns and imagery conveying religious symbolism and meaning.

Early Designs

The early designs of Moravian tiles were characterized by dominant colors like blue, yellow, manganese purple and green. Common motifs included flowers, fruit, landscapes and geometric patterns. The tiles often featured symbolism related to the Moravian church, with images like the Lamb of God, the Crown of Thorns, and the Tree of Life (https://www.pinterest.com/houseofarden/moravian-tile/).

Both geometric and figurative designs were used. Geometric patterns like squares, hexagons and circles provided visual interest when arranged in intricate combinations. Figurative elements told stories or represented ideas, with depictions of Bible scenes, seasonal landscapes, and floral designs (https://everson.org/object-of-the-week/object-of-the-week-ceramic-tiles-made-by-moravian-pottery-and-tile-works/). The early Moravian tiles were rich in symbolism and visual storytelling.

Manufacturing Process

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works utilized high-quality red earthenware clay found in abundance in Bucks County, Pennsylvania to produce their iconic tiles. According to the historian David B. Driscoll, “The majority of Mercer’s tiles…were made with the exceptional red clay found in Bucks County, and were coated with lead-based glazes in a range of colors including yellow, blue, green, brown, and white.”

The tiles were fired in large coal-burning kilns at very high temperatures up to 2200°F to vitrify the clay and fuse it with the glazes. The initial firing produced the red terracotta bisque. The tiles were then dipped in glazes and fired again at lower temperatures around 1800°F to melt the glazes without warping the bisque.

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works had production centers and workshops in Doylestown, PA where most of the handcrafting and glazing took place. Additional workshops were located in Lahaska and Buckingham, PA. Skilled workers handcut each tile and decorated them with handpainted images and relief techniques. The decorated tiles were then sent for firing and glazing.

Moravian Settlements in America

In the mid-18th century, Moravian missionaries began establishing settlements in America, bringing their artistic talents and tilemaking skills with them. Two of the most significant Moravian settlements were founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Bethlehem was established in 1741 by a small group of Moravians led by Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf. They constructed the large communal house, the Gemeinhaus, which features some of the earliest examples of Moravian tile stoves found in America. The Single Sisters’ House, built in 1755, contains additional stunning tile stoves and fireplaces decorated with biblical motifs and floral designs.

In 1753, the first Moravians arrived in North Carolina and established the settlement of Bethabara. This community later relocated and formed the city of Salem in 1766, which would eventually become part of Winston-Salem. The oldest surviving house in Salem, built in 1785, contains Moravian tiles around fireplaces and stoves. The Salem Tavern, built in 1816, features beautifully decorated tile heating stoves that are still in their original location.

These settlements brought the Moravian tradition of tilemaking to America and left a legacy of stunning tilework and masonry craftsmanship in buildings that still stand today as museums and historic sites.

Styles and Techniques

Moravian tileworks evolved significantly over the years as artists embraced new styles and innovations in technique. Early Moravian tiles featured simple geometric designs and nature motifs inspired by local flora and fauna. As Moravian settlements grew in the 18th century, artists began incorporating more elaborate Baroque and Rococo elements into their tile designs.

In the late 19th century, Moravian tileworks were influenced by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement. Tile designs became more stylized with curving lines, floral patterns and abstract motifs. However, the traditional Moravian qualities of bold colors and handcrafted appearance remained.

Moravian tilemakers pioneered several innovations in the manufacturing process over time. For example, they developed the dust-pressing method which allowed them to produce intricately detailed relief tiles. They also perfected the use of colored clays and glazes to create vivid polychrome designs not seen elsewhere in Europe.

Overall, while Moravian tile styles evolved with artistic trends, they maintained a distinctive aesthetic thanks to the master artisans who honed their techniques over centuries of tilemaking tradition.

Major Artists and Designers

Henry Chapman Mercer was the founder of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works and one of the most influential tile designers. From the late 19th to early 20th century, Mercer perfected and pioneered techniques for creating diverse decorative tiles.[1] His ceramic innovations led to the establishment of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in 1898.

Another notable tile artist was John Henry Rice, who joined the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in 1920. Rice created unique hand-painted ceramic tiles, developing his own signature style and expanding the diversity of tile designs. Many of Rice’s decorative tiles can still be seen in historic buildings today.[2]

William Trexler was a master engraver at Moravian Pottery and Tile Works for over 50 years. He helped translate Mercer’s designs into production tiles using engraving and decorative techniques. Trexler’s contributions preserved the unique Mercer style after the founder’s death.[2]

Decline

Moravian tile works experienced a significant decline in popularity starting in the late 19th century. As decorative tastes shifted away from the ornate designs of the Victorian era, interest in the tile’s baroque and rococo-inspired styles faded. Industrialization also led to the rise of cheaper, mass-produced tile, making the labor-intensive, handcrafted Moravian tiles less commercially viable.

There were several factors that contributed to the tile works’ declining popularity after the 1890s. As the arts and crafts movement gained hold, the handmade aesthetic of the tiles was appreciated, but their elaborate designs were seen as overwrought and no longer fashionable. Trends shifted toward simpler, geometric patterns influenced by art nouveau and the aesthetics of the Wiener Werkstätte in Vienna. The expanding railroads also made it easier to transport tiles nationally, increasing competition. Finally, the death of key artistic contributors led to a loss of talent and creative renewal at some settlements.

While the Moravian tile industry declined substantially by the early 20th century, there were later efforts to revive interest. In the 1920s, a renewed national fascination with early American craft led some Moravian settlements to restart production on a small scale, often focusing on historic reproductions. Further resurgences of popularity took place in the 1970s-80s due to rising interest in antiques and American heritage. Some active settlement workshops began creating new contemporary designs, ensuring Moravian tileworks remain artistically vibrant today.

Preservation

Moravian tiles hold an important place in American decorative arts history and many efforts have been made to preserve and restore them. Some of the best examples of antique Moravian tiles can be found at historic sites like the Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and Old Salem Museums & Gardens in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where extensive tile restoration work has taken place.

Moravian tiles can also be seen in major museum collections around the country. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has an extensive collection, as does the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Winterthur Museum in Delaware. These museums actively collect and display Moravian tiles to educate the public on their artistic and historical significance.

There is an active collector market for antique Moravian tiles in America. Individual tiles can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on their condition, age, design elements and provenance. Serious private collectors and enthusiasts play an important role in preserving these tiles and ensuring future generations can continue to appreciate and study them.

Some sources for more information on where to see Moravian tiles on display today include:
– “Preserving Antique Moravian Tiles at Old Salem Museums & Gardens” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afQYSzEjPJM)
– “Pennsylvania’s Ephrata Cloister” (http://cpc.state.pa.us/projects/maintenance/moravian-tile-maintenance.cfm)

Legacy

The Moravian tile works had a profound influence on decorative arts in America that continues to this day. Their unique designs and techniques inspired many other art tile manufacturers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Visit Bucks County). The rich colors and detailed biblical scenes made Moravian tiles stand out compared to the plainer or solid colored tiles being produced by other companies at the time (Moravian Pottery and Tile Works).

The Moravian legacy lives on through preserved historic buildings that feature their ornate tilework, as well as through active efforts to educate people on their history and artistry. Modern tile manufacturers continue to find inspiration from Moravian motifs and designs first created centuries ago. The beautiful and distinctive Moravian tiles left a lasting mark on the field of decorative arts in America.