Tile Heritage Foundation provides a broad range of information to the architectural preservation community by validating and dating ceramic surfacing elements at historic sites throughout the U.S.
Scholars seeking to uncover or authenticate historical data about the American tile industry and its products also use THF resources. Designers, architects, tile makers, and tile manufacturers do the same.
Note. You may make an appointment to conduct research in the THF Archives and library at no charge.
Tile Heritage Foundation (THF) offers consultation in a variety of areas based on over 50 years of experience in the tile industry. Expertise includes the following and more:
- Advice on sales, marketing, and distribution of tiles
- Writing and editing of manuscripts on historic and contemporary tile subjects
- Resources for the preservation and restoration of tiles
- Tile-making resources
- Community project/workshop planning
Cost is $60 per hour, charged in half-hour increments, by appointment only. THF members are not charged for consultation services.
Please contact foundation@tileheritage.org to discuss your needs.
If our THF experts are unable to identify the work, they will forward the information to our network of experts.
There is no charge for tile installation identification.
Email foundation@tileheritage.org with clear, high-resolution images of individual tiles or tile installations and any relevant information available:
- Site (city/state)
- Size
- Date of installation (approximate)
- Architect/designer if known
Archive Retrieval
We charge no retrieval fee when the documents requested are readily available from the THF Archives and no research is required.
However, we invoke charges for scans of documents (50 cents per page). We email or send them via WeTranfer if a volume of scans is requested. THF members receive a 20% discount.
Research Assistance
Cost is $60 for up to 1 hour of initial research by THF staff. This includes up to 10 scans.
Please note there is no guarantee that we will find the specific information requested. Cost is $40 per hour (charged in half-hour increments) for research that exceeds the initial request parameters.
Additional scans are 50 cents each.
Contact THF: foundation@tileheritage.org
THF sells image reproductions for personal reference use only. They may not be displayed or published without payment of additional appropriate fees.
The user assumes all responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise in copying and/or use. This service is permitted at THF's discretion. All images must receive prior approval before use.
Fees do not include state sales tax. THF members receive a 20% discount. All sales are final.
Tile Heritage Foundation (THF) retains all rights to reproduction(s) of images, including the right to grant others permission to reproduce the image(s). The applicant may not reproduce or permit others to reproduce the image(s). Additional copies must be purchased from the Tile Heritage Foundation.
Permission for publication is granted for one-time use and only for the expressed purpose described in this contract. Any subsequent use or change in use constitutes reuse and must be applied for in writing to the Tile Heritage Foundation and appropriate fees paid.
Permission is limited to the applicant and is non-transferable. Permission for use is not granted until all fees are paid.
All responsibility for possible copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, and rights of publicity from the use of reproductions is assumed by the applicant.
All reproductions must be credited in a caption or credit as follows: "Courtesy Tile Heritage Foundation." As other credit information may be necessary, please check with THF staff. Credits should appear near the image or in an area devoted to credits.
Altering the original photographic image beyond standard cropping or resizing requires further discussion with THF staff. These changes must be indicated in the accompanying caption or label.
Note. Retained photographs and digital images after use remain the property of THF and MAY NOT be further utilized/published without a new permission request.
The applicant agrees to provide THF with one copy of the work containing the reproduction.
Need research assistance?
THF serves both the industry and the public as no other agency can. The body of information on hand within the Tile Heritage Collection, paired with industry partnerships and access to a network of experts worldwide, provides assurance of both helpful and accurate answers to research queries.
