Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Encyclopedia
The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works (MPTW) is a history museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
. It is maintained by the County of Bucks
, Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972, and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Mercer Museum
and Fonthill
. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete
structures built by Mercer.
Handmade tiles are still produced in a manner similar to that developed by the pottery's founder and builder, Henry Chapman Mercer
. Tile designs are reissues of original designs. Mercer was a major proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement
in America. He directed the work at the pottery from 1898 until his death in 1930.
Mercer generally did not affix a potter's mark to tiles made while he directed the work at MPTW. Following his death, there were several marks used to indicate that a tile had originated at MPTW. When the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation took over the MPTW as a working museum, all tiles made by the museum were impressed on the obverse with a stylized "MOR", the words "Bucks County" and the year of manufacture (see illustration).
The reproduction tiles made today are made using Mercer's original molds, clay that is obtained locally and has properties similar to those of Mercer's original source, slips and glazes that follow Mercer's final formulations, although some have been modified to reduce the lead and heavy metal content to less toxic levels.
The Tile Works is one of three poured-in-place concrete
structures built by Mercer. The others include Fonthill
, which is located on the same property and served as his home; and the Mercer Museum
, located approximately one mile away.
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
. It is maintained by the County of Bucks
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972, and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Mercer Museum
Mercer Museum
The Mercer Museum is a museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia. The Bucks County Historical Society operates the museum, as well as the Spruance Library and Fonthill, former home of the museum's founder, archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer...
and Fonthill
Fonthill (house)
Fonthill was the home of the American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms...
. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
structures built by Mercer.
Handmade tiles are still produced in a manner similar to that developed by the pottery's founder and builder, Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer was an American archeologist, artifact collector, tile-maker and designer of three distinctive poured concrete structures: Fonthill, his home, the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, and the Mercer Museum.-Early life and education:Henry Mercer was born in Doylestown,...
. Tile designs are reissues of original designs. Mercer was a major proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
in America. He directed the work at the pottery from 1898 until his death in 1930.
Mercer generally did not affix a potter's mark to tiles made while he directed the work at MPTW. Following his death, there were several marks used to indicate that a tile had originated at MPTW. When the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation took over the MPTW as a working museum, all tiles made by the museum were impressed on the obverse with a stylized "MOR", the words "Bucks County" and the year of manufacture (see illustration).
The reproduction tiles made today are made using Mercer's original molds, clay that is obtained locally and has properties similar to those of Mercer's original source, slips and glazes that follow Mercer's final formulations, although some have been modified to reduce the lead and heavy metal content to less toxic levels.
The Tile Works is one of three poured-in-place concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
structures built by Mercer. The others include Fonthill
Fonthill (house)
Fonthill was the home of the American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms...
, which is located on the same property and served as his home; and the Mercer Museum
Mercer Museum
The Mercer Museum is a museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia. The Bucks County Historical Society operates the museum, as well as the Spruance Library and Fonthill, former home of the museum's founder, archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer...
, located approximately one mile away.
External links
- Official Homepage
- "Henry Chapman Mercer and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works" by Cleota Reed; an extensively illustrated biography of Mercer and evaluation of his role as an archeologist, architect, and artist.
- "Guidebook to the Tiled Pavement in the Capitol of Pennsylvania" by Henry Chapman Mercer; Mercer's own guide and description of the wall and floor decorative tiles and their story.
- "The Mercer Mile: The Story of Henry Chapman Mercer and his concrete buildings" by Bucks County Historical Society; describes the MPTW, Fonthill (Mercer's home) and the Mercer Museum (home of his American tool collection).