A jewel-like set of 8 antique fireplace tiles from the American Encaustic Tile Company, c. 1895–1910. Glazed in soft clouds of sky blue and cocoa smoke, their painterly surfaces evoke water, fog, and shadow. Each tile carries the organic variation that made AETCO’s glazes so prized in turn-of-the-century interiors.
Set Contents
• 6 sticks — 6” × 1.5” tiles, the long rails that set the line
• 2 keys — 3” × 1.5” half-lengths that punctuate and lock the pattern
• Total coverage: ~66 sq in (just under 0.5 sq ft)
Glaze
• Watercolor mottling in pale blue and cocoa smoke
• Natural crackle across the glaze surface
• Each tile a one-of-a-kind painterly variation
Condition
Antique originals with fine overall crazing, light edge rubs, and small kiln freckles. Faces present richly as a coherent set.
Applications
• Fireplace surround or hearth detail
• Kitchen backsplash or bath trim band
• Stair risers or wainscot accents
• Restoration stock for Arts & Crafts interiors
Provenance
From the kilns of the American Encaustic Tile Company, Zanesville, Ohio, once the largest tileworks in the world and a leader in art tile production for domestic and architectural interiors.