Vintage American Made Majolica Tiles – Set of 6

Six matching original and well-maintained interior residential 19th century antique American Victorian era majolica glazed fireplace surround tiles.

They are designed and fabricated by the short-lived Kensington Art Tile Co., Newport, KY.

The glazed ceramic tiles feature encircled rosettes surrounded by smaller floral motifs. The richly colored yellow-brown tiles are free from almost all mortar; with no cracks or repairs.

In 1881 the Hatt brothers, Arthur and Otto, established a tile works at Elm and Lowell streets in Newport, Kentucky, their company, Hatt & Hatt, was taken over by a group of investors in 1885 and renamed the Kensington Art Tile Co. The M & K Stamp is on the back of each tile.

During its short tenure as a manufacturer of dust-pressed art tiles, K & T focused on portraits and floral interpretations due to the artistic talents of its primary design team, Herman Mueller and Mary Louise McLaughlin.

Further, an advertisement in 1891 described the facility and operations, beginning with, “the main building being a substantial brick structure, three stories and basement in height and 40 by 200 feet in dimensions. the equipment for art tile-making purposes is of the most elaborate, and includes four large kilns, which bake to the extent of 14,000 feet of tile at one filling.”

It further advised:
” ………the processes of preparation of the crude clay, are as elaborate, as they are complicated. The clay is first puddled and forced through great sieves by steam power. It is then dried and ground to a fine powder, and then molded and pressed into the tile shapes, which are carefully baked, then removed and coated with the enamel and glazing liquids. They are then finally placed in the kilns and thoroughly glazed, then sent to the sorting and packing room, and forthwith shipped to the destination. The result is a perfection of quality, an elaborateness of finish, and a beauty and delicacy of colors and tints.”

M & K closed in the late 1890’s.

Each tile measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Stunning as a central design feature, for a fireplace, backsplash, shower or for any woodworking project using the tile.