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6" x 6" "Thistle," circa 1905. Part of a complete fireplace surround. Tile Heritage Collection. Gift of Peter Cornelison and Anna Howe. |
Trent Tile Company
"The tilewright is afforded the greatest opportunity to produce effects in
glazes and colors that are marvelously beautiful. All tile are placed in the
kiln flat with the glazed surface uppermost. It is therefore apparent that
any surface may be employed, modeled or plain. If the colored glaze be
transparent, and the tile be placed in the kiln level, and the tile have a
modeled surface, then the lights and shadows are perfect; if the tile be
canted it gives a result in lights and shadows that awakens our surprise and
admiration; indeed, the possibilities by manipulation in the placing of the
tile in the kiln are unlimited."
Alfred Willson Lawshe, Trent Tile Co. January 1, 1905.
Trent Tile Company, founded in 1882, produced a wide variety of decorative
embossed tiles in numerous glaze colors during the last two decades of the
19th century. The company's first designer was Isaac Broome, well recognized
at the time for his modeling of the human figure, face and profile. He was
followed by William Gallimore, a designer and modeler from England who also
had a well-established reputation. Over the years the company's success
paralleled the country's economy overall; the factory eventually closed in 1939. Today
Trent tiles are among the most collectible, especially among the lovers of
Victorian art tiles.
The "Thistle" tile illustrated here is one in a series of tiles designed to
decorate the opening on a fireplace mantel. Most decorative tiles produced
in the late 19th century were used for this purpose or as borders atop a
tile wainscoting in bathrooms.
For an illustrated reproduction of the 1905 Trent Tile catalog, click on the link below
To view past Tiles of the Month, click here!
Trenton, New Jersey
Historic Tile Catalogs for Sale.