Encaustic Tile
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
4 5/16 x 4 5/16 x 1/2 in. (11 x 11 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Encaustic tile
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florence I. Balasny-Barnes, in memory of her sister, Yvette B. Gould, 1984
Accession Number
1984.443.8
Art Historical Context
This encaustic tile, produced by the American Encaustic Tile Company between 1870 and 1875, captures a pivotal moment in the growth of American manufacturing. of earthenware and measuring just over four inches square, it reflects the era’s expanding industrial capabilities, as U.S. firms began producing durable, decorative tiles for homes and public buildings inspired by European traditions yet tailored to domestic needs. Encaustic tiles are distinguished by their technique of inlaying colored clays into the body of the tile before firing, creating patterns that resist fading even with heavy ...