Studio Art Tile with Geese This handmade tile depicts two snow geese flying over the tops of cattails and reeds. It measures 4 5//8" x 4 3/8". The design is incised. The edges of the tile slope gently outward. I could find no maker or artist initials on this and age is unknown. This is an attractive art tile in excellent condition. (#1623)

Keywords: tiles ceramic pottery birds
 

Art Pottery Figural Fountain Spout This fabulous and unusual figural fountain spout is done in the design of head of a seal or sea lion. It's done in a rich dark brown to black glaze. The squared base of the spout measures 5 3/4" square and is between 3/4" - 7/8" thick. The relief is extraordinary – 4" high.

Although unmarked, this was most certainly made by a high quality Arts & Crafts Movement pottery / tile company. The clay was hand worked on the interior to help create the opening for the water. The work is good enough to have come from the Mueller Mosaic Tile Company.

There are quite a few glaze flakes on the seal and the base. That said – it is still a wonderful example of a whimsical spout. What a great addition to your garden! (X1007)

Keywords: pottery clay sealife
 

McKusick Gila Pottery Roadrunner Tile This gorgeous tile was made by Charmion and Bob McKusick of Gila Pottery in Globe, Arizona circa 1960. This has a turquoise glaze background. The roadrunner's head is facing to the right. The tile measures 5 3/4" square and has the impressed Gila Pottery mark on the back. It is is excellent condition. (#1117)

Keywords: birds antique art tiles desert animals
Circa: 1960
Manufacturer: McKusick Gila Pottery  

Water Bird Tile made by Richard E Bishop This outstanding tile was made by Richard E. Bishop. It depicts a bird in flight, on a light turquoise background. Raised line technique, combination of matte and semi matte glazes. Measures 6" square by 5/8" thick. This could be depicting a snipe or a bog sprite. It has a long black beak, a rusty brown body and brown and blue-gray wings. Impressed Richard E. Bishop on the back. In excellent condition. (#1864)

Richard Evett Bishop (1887-1975) – has a varied and well recognized career in art. He created the 1936 Federal Duck Stamp - and is particularly well know for his works depicting game birds and water fowl. Google his name for a full bio.

Key words: art tiles ceramic antique vintage Arts & Crafts Movement shore birds water
Circa: 1950
Manufacturer: Richard E Bishop  

Wild Burro Tile by Gila Pottery and Daniel Nash This tile was made by the McKusicks' of Gila Pottery in Globe, Arizona in the late 1950's to early 1960's. The tile design was done by a friend of theirs, Daniel Nash. Nash was a well known Native American Apache artist who not only created many tile designs for the McKusick's, but was quite famous in his own right as an artist. The tile depicts a wild burro. Wild burros were introduced into the US southwest by the Spaniards in the 1500's. Their long ears are characteristic of the breed. Equus Asinus is the latin name for this amazing animal. The tile measures 5 3/4" square. It has the impressed Gila Pottery mark on the back and is signed Nash D. on the front. It is in excellent condition. (#1164)

Keywords: tiles art ceramic pottery animals desert
Manufacturer: Gila Pottery  

Round Baltimore Oriole Tile by Wheeling Done with a raised line technique, this is a really attractive tile made by the Wheeling Tile Company, of Wheeling, West Virginia, probably around the 1930's. This measures 6" in diameter and 3/8" thick. Cork applied to the back - but no mark visible. Nice matte glazes - minor wear to the raised lines and a slight wearing to the tile's edge. (#1710)

Key words: tiles antique vintage ceramic pottery art

Manufacturer: Wheeling Tile Company  

Batchelder Tile with Two Birds This Batchelder tile depicts two love birds facing each other, in a cartouche, with a fleur de lys between their feet. Done in a matte gray to beige finish, with a blue engobe in the recesses, this measures 5 n 5/8" square by 5/8" thick. It is design #444 in the Batchelder Tile catalog. This de-installed tile has a good front tile surface. There's a small chip in the wings of the bird on the left and a top right corner chip, minor mortar/grout in the recesses. The back shows the de-installation and some remaining mortar. Circa 1920's. (#1922-4580)

key words: California craftsman era Arts & Crafts Movement tiles art ceramic pottery
Circa: 1920
Manufacturer: Batchelder  

Santa Monica Tile (Taylor) - Whimsical Bird #1 Great whimsical dodo bird type beast on this vintage tile made by Taylor Tilery, of Los Angeles, California. This is a part of their line of Santa Monica Tiles. Done on a white clay dust pressed blank, they called these "novelty inserts" in one of their trade catalogs. Really attractive glaze colors of muted green, blue, salmon, and gold. Measures 4 1/4" square - circa 1930. In excellent condition. (#1101)

Key words: art tiles antique ceramic pottery arts & crafts movement

Manufacturer: Taylor Tilery  

Set of 5 Blue White Antique Tiles with Hunting Animals Hunting was a desirable motif on tiles of the Victorian era, and these are great examples. Two different scenes - one design is of dogs chasing a rabbit, and the other of dogs chasing a wild boar. All are in an unusual light blue color, on a white background. Each measures 8 ¼" x 4 1/8", and were made in Germany, ca 1880. There are 2 tiles with the wild boars, and 3 tiles with the rabbit. One boar tile has a left edge chip, and one rabbit tile has a tiny flake on the left and bottom edge. Others are in excellent condition. (#T-1204)

Key words: art tile antique vintage ceramic pottery

Manufacturer: Germany  

Antique Hand Painted Tile Bluebirds This is a well executed painting of three bluebirds sitting on pine tree branches. Signed in the lower right corner - E. Thorne. Painted on a National Tile Company tile, - with a patent date of December 3, 1907. The National Tile Company was in business, in Anderson, Indiana, from 1903 -1966 - so this was done in the earlier years of the company. There are some small impurities on the tile surface (near the center) - difficult to see unless the tile is tilted at an angle. The tile measures 6" square - the framed dimensions are 7 1/2" square. (#T-1394)

Key words: art tiles antique vintage ceramic pottery american

Manufacturer: English  

Gila Pottery Tile Mimbres Quails Made by the McKusick's while at Desert House, circa early 1950's, this tile is an early Mimbres design and has 4 quails depicted in the center. Turquoise background with a raised line design - gorgeous glaze colors. Measures 6" square and is in excellent condition. (#1106)

Key words: art tiles antique vintage ceramic pottery Indian McKusick

Manufacturer: Gila Pottery  

Unusual William Wise Animal Tile At first glance, you would assume that this is the tile, designed by William Wise, called Highland Sheep, and made by Mintons China Works, ca 1890. That is certainly correct, but not all of the story! The back has the following "factory" impressed marks: "the Easel Tile Stand - Made By The Hayes Mfg. Co, Cleveland, Ohio USA".

There was a Hayes Manufacturing Company, located in Detroit, Michigan from 1904 - 1924. Hayes seemed to always be designing something new, and was a "pioneer in stamped sheet-metal fenders, and would eventually go on to produce hoods, cowls, tool boxes and complete bodies in two separate metro-Detroit factories". I don't know if this is the same company that is referenced on the tile back or not! But it certainly is interesting - I love these oddities!

Tile measures 6" square, dark brown on white transfer, and is in excellent condition. (#1226)

Key words: tiles antique vintage ceramic pottery series

Manufacturer: Mintons China Works  

Pomona California signed vintage tile Wearing a crown and the newest fashion in light pink cloaks, is this muskrat type animal depicted on a vintage ceramic tile. This hand painted underglaze and signed tile measures 5 7/8" wide by 12" high. Executed on a Pomona Tile Company blank, which was in business from 1923- 1966 - this is indeed a wonderful whimsical tile! Only the tiniest of edge roughness on this piece in generally excellent condition. (#T-1411)

Key words: tiles retro animals art

Manufacturer: as described  

Gila Pottery / McKusick Tile by Apache Daniel Nash This well done tile depicts brown bear standing up on his hind legs - with a gorgeous tree in the background. Executed on a white background, this has muted glazes of brown, orange, green, burgundy, and taupe.. This is 5 3/4" square. Designed by the Apache, Daniel Nash, with an original paper label on the back. Mr. Nash is a well known Native American artist. Made by the McKusick's, of Globe, Arizona, circa 1960. In excellent condition. (#1426)

Key words: art tiles ceramic vintage pottery Indian

Manufacturer: Gila Pottery Desert House McKusick  

Art Deco Reticulated Architectural Figural Tiles This pair of amazing Art Deco reticulated tiles was made by the American Encaustic Tiling Company of Zanesville, Ohio. Each of these large tiles measure 9" square and 1" thick. The glaze on both is a gun metal black with silver trim on the interior edges of the design and self framing edge.

Fabulous Art Deco matched designs of a man throwing a spear on one tile, and a woman throwing a weapon on the other. There is exceedingly minor edge roughness on both, and a back edge chip on one - generally outstanding condition for these unusual and large items.

The backs are both impressed with AETCO, and Z101L (on the left one) and Z101R (on the right one). Written, in glaze, on the back is "COL 03192 SILVER" and "Z-101" or "Z-101L". I believe the age to be circa 1920. (#T-1609)

Key words: tiling tiles ceramic antique building restoration AETCO gunmetal collector vintage
Manufacturer: American Encaustic Tiling Company